Fencing is one of the things that I value the most in my life because it taught me patience, hard work, effort, and memorization. Around the year of 2021 near December was the first time that I had gone through one of the worst things of my life. In the eyes of a fencer who is muslim and black also any normal person this was something horrific. I had won state finals and I was surrounded by joy, the type of joy a whole arena gives you when there are people chanting for you but also your biggest haters. Nothing compares to that feeling for an athlete. After my sweaty hard worked win, I find myself in the parking lot ready to get on the coach bus with my foundation, the peter westbrook foundation, it's around 50 degrees and because im so sweaty I decide to walk outside with all my fencing gear still intact and on my body, what can I say it's a tradition for all to do so. My team is celebrating because it was not only me who had won that morning. At the glimpse of an eye I see this group of dads. I get the dirtiest look. Like I didn’t belong there no matter how hard I worked to get there. Next thing I know I see one of them approaching me wrathfully. They were smoking a cigarette and told me “nice game” then asked “so how did you cheat?” when he asked that my coach caught on. I replied “I didn’t earned that medal like anyone else.” He acted fast. He threw a match at me. It hit my helmet and my helmet caught fire while it was still on my head. Till this day I remember the feelings I felt and every time I put on my helmet I'm reminded of why I do this. 

– Lailah Aliyah Powell

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