By Marina Markarian
In the months leading up to the American University of Sharjah’s Sharakah Sports Festival, there was non-stop training for the students participating. As the day neared, the excitement did not go unnoticed, with all students ready to bring trophies and medals home. Waking up at 5:30 am in the morning, when the sun itself hadn’t awoken yet, was a challenge itself, but it was nothing compared to the competition ahead. The boys’ and girls’ varsity teams were competing in football, basketball, and volleyball against many different schools.
The American University of Sharjah hosts this competition annually for all high school students in the UAE. Students arrive early in the morning to register and the games begin, starting with the preliminary rounds all the way to the finals. Schools from different districts join the competition to leave with the first place trophy.
One of the best parts of the sports event is the support team. Of course, the win is like the cherry on top, but having a group of people cheer each other during games creates a new bond. It also shows team spirit and good sportsmanship for our school because of a familial link through our students. We participate as Al Mawakeb. One of my favorite quotes state that “We are not a team because we work together. We are a team because we respect, trust and care for each other “.
It gives everyone great pride and joy to hear the end result of this long and tiring day, with the girls’ volleyball team winning first place, the boys’ basketball team winning third place, and the girls’ football team winning third place. The effort put into winning these games generates great results for ourselves and our school.
To me personally, this competition was a great experience, and I am proud to say that I am a part of a team as great as mine. Every single part of the day taught me so much about friendship, teamwork, and effort and for this I’m grateful to have been given this opportunity. There’s great pride in being a part of a school that thrives to be the best through a strong work ethic, dedication and motivation.