I wrote this poem after I experienced the loss of a victory that would have meant so much to my basketball team and me. At the beginning of the season, we were still reminiscing on the win of our previous championship. Despite a tenuous start, we ended up making it to the playoffs. Unfortunately, we lost the second round of the playoffs by one point. We failed to achieve the victory that we had worked all season to get.

After the game, our coach told us something I will never forget. She said, "Don't focus on the loss. Look at all the lessons you've learned and how much you've grown this season." As I reflected on the past season, I realized my coach was right. I learned so many lessons over the year, not only as a player but also as a person. In addition, I got to spend time with my friends and even made new ones. The loss we experienced did not erase our experiences, memories, and friendships.

As I was thinking about how to write this poem, I realized that the path to success is like a road trip. Although we might not always make it to our destination, we still have memories of the sights seen and the time spent with the people we took the trip with.

And this doesn't just apply to basketball. Whatever journey of success you are on, remember that you might not reach your destination right away. Instead of focusing on the setbacks and failures, reflect on how those failures have helped you grow. Think about all the memories you've created and the lessons you learned on the way that will help you achieve your goals. Although we always aim for victory, never forget that failure has value too.