"I was lost." I barely stood on the floor the moment I knew it for sure. And I became completely blank in my head because I could reject this reality which happened in front of me. It was a prefecture's meet of an interscholastic athletic prelim in Miyagi in this June that I entered into for the second time after I began to practice Naginata. I had practiced it desperately, but I only heard the rumor that the competitors of this game were tougher than me. Actually it was only one year since I began Naginata. To be plain, I'm a beginner," and my competitors are "crackerjacks," because they have practiced Naginata from their childhood. There is no Naginata club in their high school, so they seldom practice it.

　When the game started, they looked stronger than I had expected. I was supported by my words of encouragement; I have endured hard practice to win this game every day. I would do my best! I would fight at my own pace. I want to win! Telling myself such words many times, I gripped Naginata with all my might. I attacked positively for five minutes of the game. But regretfully, I was beaten hollow...my competitors were stronger. I cried till my face swelled, and while crying, I thought various things. "Why did I lose this game? Wasn't my practice enough? I trained Naginata surely every day!"

　I wanted to run away from this challenging and hard practice. However, I couldn't leave it. I noticed that I had more concentrated on Naginata than ever. In the next game, "Tohoku championship," I got a prize "top eight" that was my best record. Unconsciously, I praised myself for doing my best.

　I began Naginata when I entered this high school. I learned many things through it. Practicing Naginata hard every day gave me patience, sadness, happiness, experiences, and unexpected meeting with the best companions. Now, Naginata that I selected occupies a very important position in my high school days. There is one year left for me. I'm going to push forward with Naginata. I'll do my best!