I used to hate being called upon in class mainly because I didn't like attention drawn to myself. And __21_otherwise assigned(指定) a seat by the teacher, I always __22__ to sit at the back of the classroom.
All this __23__ after I joined a sports team. It began when a teacher suggested I try out for the basketball team. At first I thought it was a crazy __24__ because I didn't have a good sense of balance,nor did I have the __25__ to keep pace with the others on the team and they would tease me. But for the teacher who kept insisting on my “__26__ for it”, I wouldn't have decided to give a try.
Getting up the courage to go to the tryouts(选拔) was only the __27__ of it!When I first started __28__ the practice sessions, I didn't even know the rules of the game, much __29__ what I was doing. Sometimes I'd get _30__ and take a shot at the wrong direction which made me feel really stupid. __31__, I wasn't the only one “new” at the game, so I decided to __32__ on learning the game,do my best at each practice session, and not be too hard on myself for the things I didn't __33__ “just yet”.
I practiced and practiced. Soon I knew the __34_ and the “moves”. Being part of a team was fun and motivating. Very soon the competitive __35__ in me was winning over my lack of confidence. With time, I learned how to play and made friends in the __36__—friends who respected my efforts to work hard and be a team player. I never had so much fun!