My meeting was intense today. It was for the UC Lit Budget meeting for the fall/winter year. There were so many huge debates and points brought up for every budget, but the most important one for me was the UC Water Dragons budget. We lost 1600 of our funding last year that may or may not be coming still and the $4000 the team requested this year(same as last year) was up for a decrease of $2000 leaving the team deficient of 3600 overall. Arguments between myself, the president, and many others were flying back and forth.
The moment I felt like I was losing the battle, I poured my heart out. My blood was boiling and my hands were shaking. I told the Lit how we ask for enough money to just compete. We don’t request funding for unnecessary equipment like matching PFD’s and/or paddles (as some teams do) and we paddle in the dirtier, contaminated beach club because it’s cheaper. We pay up to $300 out of our own pocket to contribute to the team by buying jerseys, and paying for gas to carpool to these festivals.
I had to fight this battle with all I had because UC Water Dragons and paddling has become a lifestyle to me and has affected me to the core. I can’t imagine not doing it anymore and it terrified me and broke my heart thinking that we could lose so much money that may or may not allow us to continue as a team. We ended up securing the funding for the first run through. I realized that we were safe but I ended up breaking down after that fight. I actually started tearing and had trouble pulling myself together.
I collected myself quickly and then walked to the washroom, where I let it out. I don’t know what came over me, but this family I made last year; this life I had…I couldn’t have it destroyed. I cried and cried. Then came back and prepared for the last reading.
End of story. We kept our budget.
