worth it?

Question
I'm a 5'2" 110 lb. Sophmore. I just began rowing about one or two months ago and pull a 2:25 split for a 4K. I really enjoy rowing but keep getting put down because I'm too small and light. Is this true? I'd really like to go far and continue crew.  

Answer
Hi Alana: Yes, it is definitely worth sticking out at least one season of crew and maybe more if you like it.  You need to give it one year to see if you really like the sport and have the ability to compete.  I'll give you 3 reasons:

1) You have potential.  Based on your 4K time, you're not the biggest or best rower out there; but you are not the worst either.  My estimate that your time is better than 15-20% of 14-16 year old female lightweights.  Look, you're just a novice starting out and there might be girls your age who already have a season under their belt, have 20 pounds over you, or both.  If you stick it out for one whole season, you will put on between 5-10 pounds of muscle and get your 2K time to about 9 minutes or better.  If you continue to row, you will get bigger, stronger and faster.

2) You can't let a few jerks spoil your goals in life.  In life, you are going to encounter -- for lack of a better word -- a**holes who have nothing better to do than to put people down and undermine there confidence and self esteem.  You can't let them.  If you were that pathetic, the coach himself/herself would tell you to try another sport.  But that is not going to happen.  Just stick to it and if you decide you want to try something else after one season, you did it on your own terms.

3) It's a great sport.  If you stick to rowing through high school, college, and even beyond, you will make new friends, see new places and have memories that will last a lifetime.  Much of my success in my own life would not have been possible without the rigorous training and self confidence I attained from competing in the sport.

Good Luck/AP