By Aseel Barghuthi,
Amman Baccalaureate School,
Amman, Jordan.

"Determination is the key."
-- Maha Barghuthi

I tore ligaments in my ankle a month ago. I thought my basketball career was over--that my ankle would never be the same. I had consistent nightmares of being forced to wear an ankle brace for the rest of my life.

But never for a moment did I stop to think that there are people in the world who truly are forced to deal with their disabilities for an entire lifetime. One of the greatest examples is my cousin, Maha Barghuthi (pictured above), who has been in a wheelchair ever since she was a child. She is suffering from paralysis.

One thing that has always fascinated me about her personality and character is her determination. Although she lives in a wheelchair, she is indeed the ultimate athlete. Allow me to explain.

A couple of months ago, Maha took part in the 2000 Paralympic Games in Sydney, Australia, in the sport of table tennis. She has been playing table tennis for only the past three years, but her determination and athleticism allowed her to reach the finals.

I asked her to describe what is was like, playing in the gold-medal game. While describing her feelings and emotions during her final game, Maha was almost reliving it, with me by her side. She talked of immense determination, and excessive confidence, her eyes gleaming with victory.

Maha brought home Olympic gold, the first Olympic gold the country of Jordan has ever seen. She has become a hero in the eyes of all Jordanian athletes.

I held the Olympic gold medal in my hands, taking in the beauty of its shine. For a single moment, I felt like a winner. So just take a moment and imagine how it would be to actually win an Olympic gold medal. Go ahead, imagine it. Doesn't it feel good?

Now take a moment and imagine yourself in a wheelchair, fated to live in it all your life. Imagine practicing your heart out, practicing until your arms ache, and your head throbs. Imagine that practice paying off. Most importantly, imagine holding the gold medal in your hands, victorious.

Maha has indeed earned her well-deserved respect amongst international athletes, and she symbolizes the key to success: determination. Her consistent practicing and constant competing allowed her to fulfill her dream, as all athletes thrive towards doing.

As Maha talked of parental support, four-hour practices, and emotional dedication, I realized that to really want something, you have got to be 200 percent willing to dedicate your life to getting it. And now, with the Olympic gold tucked away in her drawer, Maha has succeeded in obtaining what many people only dream of obtaining.

My torn ligaments stopped me from playing an entire half today, and now I sit here icing it, hoping that the swelling will recede soon. But I'm not worried, because even if it takes me another month to recover, I know that when I get back on the court, I'll be 110 percent.

As Maha has learnt to cope with her disability, I too will be patient with my own. As an athlete, she has sent an essential example for me. She has taught me the value of being a dedicated and fulfilled athlete, and she has taught me that no matter who you are, or how you are, you can still go out there and get your Gold.

Quote of the day:
"Great athletes are not great because of their technique, they are great because of their passion."

#68, Aseel

Aseel Barghuthi is in her senior year at Amman Baccalaureate School, in the country of Jordan, where she plays both point guard and shooting guard on the school team. She has also lived in the United States (Athens, Georgia) and England. To contact Aseel with any comments or suggestions, e-mail her at aseel@index.com.jo