Traveling meets became infrequent ever since Covid hit China, but as regulations loosen, we are retrieving back the opportunities to compete with more schools from around the world. This weekend, we raced in HKIS, one of the schools in APAC. The meet brought together athletes from around Asia, ranging from Beijing all the way to the Philippines. I found myself immersed in the tapestry of emotions with the energetic atmosphere and competitive mentality. Competitions have always been my fear, but this experience let my anxiety melt away; the laughter and cheers from the spectators propelled me forward, stroke by stroke, I found the serenity of swimming. 
Amid the enjoyable times, a fever emerged. Feelings of unwillingness and irritation arose within head, and I was once again engrossed in negative thoughts. The stifling heat in this new environment and the bitterly cold water numbed my limbs and amplified the fatigue, each time I try to move my arms, they battle with the forceful strength of the water. However, my companions whispered encouragement into my ears, motivating me to overcome these obstacles again. I found solace not just in their words, but their constant presence and care. With the reminder that I was not alone, my strokes seemed to have retrieved power, harnessing each and every muscle on my body. Although I did not complete all my individual events, I still had the ambition to contribute to our relay team. The mixed gender relay was novel to me, this is one of the few opportunities I have in swimming with my friends of the opposite gender. Relays are always the most exciting events, it embodies the essence of teamwork, coordination, and shared triumph. It is not simply about individual dedication, but each swimmer’s contribution. This relay was particularly remarkable, since this event marks a goodbye to two of my teammates whom were pursuing their journey in America soon. Farewells are inevitable, but I have cherished the laughters and challenges throughout the years we have spent together. 
We carried memories throughout this competition. The last meet of the school year does not mark an ending to our stories, but a pathway to a new adventure for all of us. We will embrace the journey that lay ahead, with unwavering determination, we are eager to seize the opportunities offered in the future.
There were also some small stores that sold hats, jewelries, pins, and so on. One of the stores we explored was quite interesting. The store manager wrote small signs around the store, which are from the first person view. She tries to make it seem like the products are speaking to us. For example, the sunglasses had a small handwritten sign next to them saying, “Please feel free to try me on, but don’t touch my lenses!” It seems quite entertaining, and it elevates the whole atmosphere.