I used to hate being called upon in class mainly because I didn't like attention drawn to myself.And ___36___ otherwise assigned(指定) a seat by the teacher,I always ___37___ to sit at the back of the classroom.
All this ___38___ 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 ___39___ because I didn't have a good sense of balance nor did I have the ___40___ to keep pace with the others on the team and they would tease me.But for the teacher who kept insisting on my "___41___ for it",I wouldn't have decided to give it a try.
Getting up the courage to go to the tryouts was only the ___42___ of it!When I first started ___43___ the practice sessions.I didn't even know the rules of the game,much ___44___ what I was doing.Sometimes I'd get ___45___ and take a shot at the wrong direction—which made me feel really stupid.___46___.I wasn't the only one "new" at the game,so I decided to ___47___ on learning the game,do my best at each practice session,and not be too hard on myself for the things I didn't ___48___ "just yet".
I practiced and practiced.Soon I knew the ___49___ and the "moves" Being part of a team was fun and motivating.Very soon the competitive ___50___ in me was winning over my lack ofconfidence.With time,I learned how to play and made friends in the ___50___— friends whorespected my efforts to work hard and be a team player.I never had so much fun!
With my ___52___ self-confidence comes more praise from teachers and classmates.I have gone from "___53___" in the back of the classroom and not wanting to call attention to myself,___54___ raising my hand — even when I sometimes wasn't 100 percent ___55___ I had the right answer.Now I have more self-confidence in myself.