A LEBANESE ATHLETE

Here I am, in my home country for the holidays, sitting in the dark, without electricity.
My name is Shayna Katra, and I am 15 years old. This is where I'm supposed to introduce myself, but it's a question I'm never sure how to respond to. "What makes me so special?" I ask myself. "I'm just a regular person like everyone else." When people ask me that, I simply tell them that I am a national swimmer. But there are a lot of things about myself that no one knows about. I'm a loving person who rarely expresses her feelings. I'm self-assured and committed. I've planned out my entire future and know exactly what fascinates me. However, my life has been a rollercoaster of emotions up to this point. Being a sportsperson in Lebanon has taught me a lot of valuable lessons and principles. That is why I am here now, writing to you about my experience and how each incident shaped the person I am today.