As I have emphasized before, table tennis is something that I am grateful to have picked up because of the opportunities it has given me. More than winning or losing, I have definitely realized how beneficial it has been for me. It has helped me think ahead, manage my school and training, travel the world, meet amazing people, deal with nerve wracking situations (I’m still working on that), and persevere through hardships. These lessons are worth infinitely more than the rating I might see on a computer screen. In addition to being grateful and hopeful, we can look at everything through a different lens.

We should use our experiences with table tennis as stepping stones to improve other aspects of ourselves. This starts with reflecting on who we are as people. COVID-19 has given me time to look back on what I have accomplished, how I have grown, and what I still need to work on. Going off of that, I have realized the importance of being open to new experiences and being willing to adapt and adjust to different situations. A lot of life advice naturally comes from table tennis and we now have a lot more time to think about how table tennis can teach us interesting lessons.

I have also learned about leadership. I might not be the loudest person in the room, and I might not be the most willing to step up and take charge. I might instead be an introverted and shy individual who hates being looked at. However, by challenging myself, I can improve. I have realized that leaders might not always be comfortable with what they’re doing, but they know that someone will have to step up and act, so they take the initiative and set an example. Being a leader is about taking action for something you are passionate about, not about having power. I like to think of a leader as being “comfortable with being uncomfortable.”

As I have reflected on this, I managed to muster up the courage to write this blog series. Even though it’s just three short articles, it’s a start for me. I know that I am trying to challenge myself and put myself out of my comfort zone, and through that, I can improve myself and my community. Likewise, all of you can do something to help the community and yourself. Even if you’re not comfortable with taking action, doing it is what matters. Overcoming fear and worry for a cause bigger than yourself is what matters.

Whether that’s joining or creating a new club at school, trying to support coworkers and being more considerate at work, or just talking more frequently with family members, anything helps. I also encourage everyone to be a good citizen wherever they are. This is important because doing our part to make our world a better place, no matter how cliche that sounds, is what keeps our world going. Helping someone out or thanking someone might make their day or let them know that someone is there for them.

So, here’s my last call to action. Let’s come together to connect as a community, show each other gratitude and exhibit a hopeful attitude towards the future, and use these times as opportunities to become better leaders and citizens. We should work hard to have a more action-oriented mindset and step up to act according to what we believe in and stand up for our morals. Let’s think beyond ourselves and instead think about our communities and reach out of our comfort zones. We should be thinking about how our actions affect others and how they might benefit the community as a whole.

And, that’s a wrap! I hope that you all learned a thing or two as you read these three articles. I sure did. These articles gave me a way to just think about everything going on in my life and how it might apply to you all too. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to spread my ideas and challenge myself, and I hope you can take what you learned and apply it to the world.