First One

My name is Morgan Danyelle Vanderpool. I am named after my grandfather. His name is Danny Nevels.

I am eighteen years old and am currently a Senior at Indianola High School. My birthday is in July so I love having an early birthday because I get new advantages to things when I turn another year older and my friends are still a year younger. When I turned 16 everyone wanted my to drive them around it was fun but got old at times.

In high school I have accomplished many things that I am proud of myself for getting out there and doing achieving them. I am a 4 year varsity cross country runner. I have put in a lot of miles and dedication into my running career. Every summer we start official practice at the end of July and beginning of August, but to be in shape you must start right when summer starts. Its hot. Its sweaty. It gets old. I know that I am healthier when I get into shape before practice officially starts. I guess you could call me a health freak. I will go out to dinner for the big juicy cheeseburger and fries though. I am also a 4 year letter winner for Track too.

Throughout my life in running I have gone through many pairs of running shoes. I would say at least 8!! A pair for each season. Its crazy to think that one person can run that much but it really makes a difference in how you perform in the shoes. I actually just got new shoes for track season this year and I feel like I have a little more bounce in my run and feet thank me for it! This year we were put into different conferences. We traveled to Ewing Park to run and we had a pretty good chance of winning conference. Roosevelt was our biggest competition. They have some very quick girls who know how to run races. This race was the hardest race I've ever ran. First of all I have never ran at Ewing Park. Second this course has a lot of hills. Third it was conference I was very nervous. Fourth we had a lot of riding on our backs as a team, we really wanted to beat them! It was like a fat kid wants chocolate type of want!! The race was very difficult I started off really well and then the hills started to come and I became weak, but then a Roosevelt girl past me and I got really positive to stay with her pushing myself to the limit. I don't know how she did it but I couldn't go that fast because I knew this wasn't my race and I would end up dying. The last half mile always kills because you know that you're so close to being done that you want to go faster just to be done, but you physically can't, you put all the effort into the other 2 miles and somehow you find it in you. It was a hot day so I thought about an ice cold bottle of water and that made me go faster! I believe its called runners high. Its a feeling that you get that changes all of your thinking and it just pushes you like crazy! I finished strong like I always do. I don't always remember the last 5 minutes...I finish but then things just go blur and I fall I

 guess. That's at least what my mom says. We ended up getting 2nd but I know we all tried our bests. I got 16th at conference.

This is my Varsity team after running at Districts in Johnston.

As you can tell from all of what I have said I am a very dedicated person to my team. I will miss them dearly next year! I have a big heart full of love and kindness. I love to be around people and I know they say the same about me. I can be a great listener and help you with any situation. I like to encourage people to do things because honestly it encourages myself to do better. I think about what I say to people and wish that I do the same for myself. I like being a role model. I grew up being a role model. I have three younger brothers and I the oldest on both sides of my family of cousins. Its tough sometimes when you don't do the right thing and they expected you to. I get down on myself about it and really wish that I don't. People make mistakes and as I have been growing up I've noticed that I have to make my own decisions and they are hard. Its my life and its time that I make them and not my parents.