Monica Rivera competes in the 800m at a 2017 Area meet
At the biggest meet of her high school track and field career, Monica Rivera walks from the check-in tent, up the track, and straight to the starting line. She is competing in the most competitive field of runners in her career and at the highest level of competition in her life. A surge of nostalgia sets in as she looks in the stands and throughout the stadium at the Texas Relays crowd, thinking about the path to this point and the chain of recent events that led to this day.
From the outside looking in, her senior season was going as planned. Rivera ran a personal best 1600m time of 5:08.64. Cloud 9: a PR and a school record. Things couldn't have been any better -- at least that's how things seemed.
She was just one week ahead of her last district 29-6A meet and on her way to starting her hopeful road of finally qualifying for the state track and field meet before she graduates.
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However, as she finished the race that day in Austin and walked back down the track in front of a stadium full of screaming fans, Rivera had her mind and heart overtaken by different thoughts and feelings.
Unknown to others, things weren't as hopeful and going according to plan as it seemed.
Just days earlier, Rivera's mother lost an eight-year fight to breast cancer that she had been battling the since 2010.
The Move And The Discovery
"We moved (from Mexico) to Eagle Pass in 2010 when my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer," Rivera said. "She was getting treatment in San Antonio while my family and I stayed with some family members in Eagle Pass."
That's when the family made Eagle Pass their home.
"After a good five months, we eventually moved into our own house."
"When I feel like giving up my mother's presence will always be there to help me push myself. It will keep me motivated to always strive for better."
Monica Rivera, Eagle Pass senior
Rivera enjoyed the move to Eagle Pass. The transition to life in the US, new schools, and being introduced to running was a new and welcomed joy.
"Ever since I was little I loved coming to Eagle Pass," Rivera said. "So when I was told we were going to be living in here, I was really excited."
Despite her mom battling cancer, Rivera was able to completely make the transition and concentrate and focus on school, partly due to having no clue of her mother's sickness.
"Back then I didn't know the reason why we were moving," she said. "It wasn't until my mom started getting really sick that I was told my mom had cancer."
Running Became A Part Of Life And A Way To Cope
"Running has helped me temper my emotions a bit," Rivera said. "At worst, it gave me something to look forward to on a tough day."
"Running gives me a sense of control after feeling like my world had crumbled around me," Rivera said. "It's a great place to just vent and release my stress and frustration."
"The more I run the stronger I become and the more I feel connected with my mom. Running gave me courage and it's helping me cope with my loss."
Monica Rivera, Eagle Pass senior
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Perhaps that's something that will stick with Rivera forever.