A Most Beautiful Thing

by Arshay Cooper

I was trying to get him to understand that it’s not just trying or wanting to change. I believe you have to make a choice, you have to decide. I make a choice right there and then that I am done with my old life. I choose rowing. I choose a future. I know it’s easier to say I’ll try than to do it.

It’s amazing how beauty calms fear, like seeing Grace last night after struggling in the pool.

Patience has shown me some of Grace’s strengths, strong aspects of her personality that I probably wouldn’t have seen if I was actually with her. I’ve also seen her weaknesses, and patience gave me the opportunity to know what I can and cannot deal with before investing more time. I am starting to realize that if you don’t take the time to get to know a person first, you will only waste time, and it may lead to an unplanned baby, a divorce, or a painful breakup. All things considered, waiting on Grace seems like the best step.

I’m not sure if I am just thrilled to be somewhere else, but to me, this city carries the joy of a thousand ice-cream trucks, and I haven’t been here for a half hour.

Rowing is also about trust and if we can’t do that we can forget about this season. On the West Side, one of the first things you are taught through rap music and from your parents is Trust No One. I am not sure how you undo that, but I’m willing to try. I will start with at least talking to each of my teammates because we barely do that.

To me, smart is more than just understanding puzzles, remembering words, or quoting facts. To me, intelligence is being able to stay out of trouble, knowing when to shut your mouth, being open to new learning, hanging out with the right crowd, and thinking of consequences before every action.

The power of speaking the right words to a young person can do something magical. I feel unstoppable.

People always tell me that I’m young and should enjoy being a teenager, but to me it’s only temporary fun. Being a teenager is all about fake friends, being broke, and a constant battle for popularity.

I’ve learned to block things out of my head and guard my heart the same way I guard my teammates. I haven’t talked to my dad since seeing him, and it hurts a lot less than last time. I’ve learned to count my blessings, and there are always more positives than negatives. I’ve learned how to strengthen myself.

Some people say the heart does what it wants and you can’t control it. I think it’s what you feed the heart.

When you represent something larger than yourself and your career, real change happens. So when we step out into that boat in Grand Rapids, I don’t want people to see a crew team but young men who rowed against the current of life and survived.

In crew you move ahead by looking in the opposite direction. I learned that it’s okay to look back, as long as you keep moving forward.