Senior Stories: Melissa, Trusting My Resistance
Melissa is an a SRLA runner from Magnolia Science Academy Reseda, She completed her first LA Marathon this past March. Melissa was awarded an SRLA scholarship which will support her academic journey at University of Southern California as a Biological Sciences major.
SRLA taught me teamwork, positivity, and the importance of cheering each other on. There was never a day where I didn't feel valued whenever I showed up to running practice. SRLA taught me that the thing that truly matters is reaching the end, not how long it takes to get there. Before this realization, I would often doubt myself and my own instinct. I began to be kinder to myself and others. SRLA has taught me more than consistency and because of this, I have been able to apply the concept of consistency to my recovery.
Melissa wearing her 2023 LA Marathon during her high school graduation.
SRLA also has taught me the importance of self-care, which proved that my mental health and I matter too. During my adolescence, I battled with my self image for a long time. With a low self image, I relied on battling anorexia with damaging coping mechanisms. At my time with SRLA, I was reminded that every finish line and every medal is living proof of what life beyond Anorexia really means. After exhaustive confrontations and shaking hands with misery for so long, I earned a badge of courage that I now wear on my chest: “Anorexia Nervosa Survivor.” I was sick, I was ill, and I was clinically diagnosed with this eating disorder. One that, ironically, prohibited me from eating at all out of fear of calories and weight gain, yet it was slowly devouring me inside. Numbers reigned my decisions, disordered thoughts dominated my lifestyle, and food became the mortal enemy. The doctor advised me that one more pound lost would equate my death sentence. I was convinced that life didn’t exist beyond this for me anymore. I gave up. My path through recovery was difficult, and eventually, I was able to recover a healthy weight.
I’ve always wanted to join SRLA since 9th grade, but I knew my parents would have never approved; nor my doctor. I’m also aware that my deep desire to do so stemmed from the same anorexic obsession in me for exercise. It wasn’t until this year–my senior year–that I felt mentally healthy enough to take control of my own life and decide to join the team for the experience, not for the perceived weight loss. I gave myself the chance and I’m grateful for all the lessons I’ve learned. My entire journey of coping with an eating disorder has shown me that the girl who was once unable to sweep without running out of breath, could now run a whole marathon with strong legs. Running reminded me that I recovered not only my strength, but also my life. Conquering my own self-image reminded me that I am alive and that I’ve have beat the enemy in the final battle.
“Numbers reigned my decisions, disordered thoughts dominated my lifestyle, and food became the mortal enemy.”
SRLA has influenced me in a lot of ways, but most importantly, it has allowed me to trust myself and my resistance. Every practice, every race, every finish line, and every medal were a testament to my endurance and commitment. SRLA has influenced me to cherish the small moments in life where I’m still able to trek forward. It has influenced me to live in the moment and enjoy the scenery that encapsulates me. The connections, networks, and friendly atmosphere in our team has allowed me to feel belonging and learn from others. Now, I am proud to confess that SRLA has given me the opportunity to grow. I don’t doubt my abilities anymore because I put them to the test. I love working and collaborating with others. I believe in my athletic potential as long as I give it my all. I’m no longer embarrassed about any of my physical abilities. I can only just compare myself with who I was before, and that growth is a triumph on its own.
If I could talk to my younger self, I would tell her not worry so much about what others perceive her as but instead just focus on her own self perception. I often wish I was able to be more outgoing and pursue more activities that I was passionate about without worrying what society may view it as or how others may see a temporary version of what you'll have. One of the important lessons I have understood is how people come and go so it’s important to live your life so you can live to the truest version of yourself. Once I finished my first marathon, I felt really accomplished when I reached that finish line. It felt like a really long journey, I felt like I was on the track for hours. Finally being able to reach the finish line felt like everything that I had built up to this moment was worth every goal I had reached before. All the hours of practice, all the races, they all were meant for something at last.
“ One of the important lessons I have understood is how people come and go so it’s important to live your life so you can live to the truest version of yourself. ”
A core memory with my team was whenever we were doing practices, everyone would do team stretches. The very first time that we got our new team this year, we were introducing ourselves and everyone was just so friendly. After every introduction, we clapped for each other. Then throughout the different races, whenever we would see each other go by throughout the races, we'd wave/smile/clap and tell each other we could do it. I feel like those were really core memories because it made me feel like running was beyond something that was only just me in the track. I was part of a team and having the support from them from the start gave me the confidence boost and the energy to keep going. Sometimes when you’re completely tired, just one person passing by saying that you can do it and believing in you, it gives you the fuel to actually reach the very end.
I think the most challenging moment was at the very beginning of the season because this year was my first year in SRLA. I had several years without any physical education or any activity overall. So at the very beginning it was challenging because just trying to keep up with stamina and trying to keep up with other team members that have been on the team for more than one year. It felt a bit discouraging to just be in the back and then seeing the races move pretty fast paced. I began to doubt if I would be able to make it at the end or whether the marathon would be something that I would be able to accomplish.
Melissa (bottom left) pictured with her running group during an LA Marathon.
I feel like SRLA in general is a really great program. I feel like this year I was able to boost a lot of my confidence and my maturity because I was exposed to everything that SRLA offered. It's so much more than just running because you're not the only one running the races on your own or you're expected to set a goal of blank many steps every day. It's more of a team building experience and being able to work with other people and not depending on just yourself all the time. I was able to talk and create a team with people from below my grade who I never really talked to. But it was just a really lovely experience and I feel like I was able to feel confident in what I was doing. I feel like other people had my back for the first time. It filled my character a lot more and it was just a really wonderful experience made with a lot of memories.
I’d like to shoutout my coach, Mr. Flores. I feel like he was a very key component to the SRLA experience. He's been a coach for at least 10 years now so he's had great experiences and he knows the tips and tricks behind races, the marathons, and how things go. He made running not so intimidating at all. He'd really just give us a lot of advice, he treated us like his family in a sense. He would always look after us at every single race. He wouldn't go home until we were all done. He would wait every single practice, even if someone ended super late. He'd still wait for people to get picked up and stuff like that. I feel like him taking that role of him actually caring and giving you advice made my time with SRLA more comforting and it made it feel like you were accepted and part of the team.
“I was part of a team and having the support from them from the start gave me the confidence boost and the energy to keep going.”