Blog Post #4 - A Short Personal Story

The pitfall of excessive pride

     Since my childhood, I have been the most active person in my family.  My parents have let me do whatever I want.  When I was younger, I took swimming, Taekwondo and ballet lessons.  Also I have been an athlete for four years.  Although I was a little young girl, I liked to challenge many new things.  When I achieved success, I felt rewarded.  It made me try to do other things.  And I always thought that If I want to do something, I should try it.  Then through the success, I felt very happy and as owned the world.  However, when I was seven years old, I realized that having too much confidence can cause the damage to myself.
     In the ealry 1990s, I went on a summer vacation to the river with my family and other families of my father's friends'.  When I was seven years old, I was a swimmer and thought I was very good at swimming then I dived into the water alone.  None cared me because other parents were busy to care their kids and also my parents had to take care my younger bother, he was a two year-old baby.  At first I swam close to my parents but as time goes on I wanted to swim in deeper water.  Therefore, I went into the gradually deeper water and enjoyed the wild waves.  Suddenly I was swapt away from the place where my family were.  I lost my sandals, a cap and swimming glasses.  I screamed "Help me! Save me!".  There was no one could hear me, I do not know why but I could not see anyone who could help me.  Unexpectedly, I was caught between small rocks. Luckily I was holding a tube which was big enough that is why I was able to be caught.  When I got jammed in the rocks I was getting exhausted, at that time I saw a man.  I yelled my head off "Save me! Help me! Anyone!".  Finally, the man saw me and he dived into the water and saved me!  I survived by his help.  After he saved my life he said that "I thought you were my daughter."  Yes, he misunderstood me to his daughter.  It did not matter for me at all, I just got out of the water.  When he brought me to the ground, many people gathered and my parents also came to me and they said "Thank you very much. You saved my daughter's life" to him.  I do not remember exactly what I said to him and how I thanked to him.
     In the evening of the day, I calmed myself down and stayed at the accommodation until the next day.  Except me, everyone enjoyed their summer vacation well.  From the accident, I learned that everytime I need to be careful I think I am confident in my ability though.  Since the accident happend, I have not been afraid the water at all.  I could have been disappeared or even worse I could have died though.  It is a bit strange!