FLORENCE CHADWICK
Florence Chadwick, the swimmer :
Florence Chadwick was the first woman of the world who swam the English Channel in both directions. After getting this great recognition, her aim was to be the first woman to swim the Catalina channel. She undertook strenuous exercises. She was 34 years old. Yet, the desire was burning in her.
Florence tries for Catalina Channel :
Finally, after all the training sessions, she jumped into the sea on the morning of 04/06/52. It was very cold. The fog on the water surface was so dense that she could hardly see her support boats. She swam on hour after hour. People watched her in large numbers and cheered her.
Florence had been swimming for nearly sixteen hours. She looked ahead and saw nothing but a thick wall of fog. Her body was getting numb.
But her mother and her trainer offered encouragement from a boat alongside and close to Florence. They kept on encouraging her saying that it wasn't much farther. . They urged her not to quit.
The brave Florence gave up!! :
But all she could see was fog and fog! It looked impossible to Florence. And she gave up!! She was exhausted and asked to be pulled out.
She had lost the chance. A depressed Florence reviewed what she did. She came to know that the shore was only a kilometer away when she gave up!, "Oh God, if ! just the fog had not been there!!"
"If I could have seen land I might have made it." :
It was not fatigue or even the cold water that defeated her. It was the fog. She was unable to see her goal. When asked by a reporter she said, "Look, I'm not excusing myself, but if I could have seen land I might have made it."
She wins the next time :
Two months later, she tried again. This time, despite the same dense fog, she swam with her faith intact and her goal clearly pictured in her - mind.
This time she knew that somewhere behind that fog was the land.
This time, not only Florence Chadwick became the first woman to swim the catalina channel, but also she surpassed the men's record by two hours!
MORAL OF THE STORY
Take a good look at your goal and be conscious of how close you are to the destination.
In studies :
- Look forward to your future with definite targets.
- Make sure what score you want in the exam. Practice for it sincerely. Move with calculated steps watch your steps moving closer to your goal.
- Always keep your goal fixed before your eyes.