The gymnast closed her eyes. Her arms swayed gracefully into each pose and traced the motions she was about to compete. As she visualized herself flipping four feet off the floor on a four inch beam, her body trembled and her palms perspired. Over the past 16 years of her life, she has spent four and a half hours, five days a week, 52 weeks of the year, training in the gym, for this moment. As she concluded her mental routine, the athlete smiled gently at her coach and made her way over to the beam. While she waited for a signal from the judges, she whispered her verbal choreography and confidently prepared to compete.
A few feet away, her coach stood patiently and waited for her to mount the beam. The coach pictured all of the memories …show more content…
Butterflies fluttered in her stomach while she watched her friends’ toes grip the edge of the beam and her body sway nimbly from pose to pose. She whispered under her breath “stick it” and cheered louder than the crowd each time her feet landed solidly on the leather beam. As the gymnast stuck her dismount, time seemed to freeze. The sounds of the rowdy crowd dissipated and all she could do was wrap her friend in a celebratory hug. Compliments escaped her lips and the two made their way over to their coach.
After exchanging emotional hugs and a few “good jobs,” the three of them looked up through the chalky air to see her score. As their eyes moved up towards the scoreboard, they caught a glimpse of themselves in the mirror above the floor. Their reflection all had the same blue eyes. All three of them were me.
I am the gymnast, the one who shines and takes pride in what I do. I work hard to be successful and follow my dreams. I am also the coach. I have learned to be a leader in the gym by guiding the skills of the younger gymnasts. And lastly, I am the teammate. I encourage, cheer on and revel in my teammates success. All three versions of “me” will make me a victor at the United States Air Force Academy. I will compete, succeed, lead, coach, support and encourage… I will be a
A few feet away, her coach stood patiently and waited for her to mount the beam. The coach pictured all of the memories …show more content…
Butterflies fluttered in her stomach while she watched her friends’ toes grip the edge of the beam and her body sway nimbly from pose to pose. She whispered under her breath “stick it” and cheered louder than the crowd each time her feet landed solidly on the leather beam. As the gymnast stuck her dismount, time seemed to freeze. The sounds of the rowdy crowd dissipated and all she could do was wrap her friend in a celebratory hug. Compliments escaped her lips and the two made their way over to their coach.
After exchanging emotional hugs and a few “good jobs,” the three of them looked up through the chalky air to see her score. As their eyes moved up towards the scoreboard, they caught a glimpse of themselves in the mirror above the floor. Their reflection all had the same blue eyes. All three of them were me.
I am the gymnast, the one who shines and takes pride in what I do. I work hard to be successful and follow my dreams. I am also the coach. I have learned to be a leader in the gym by guiding the skills of the younger gymnasts. And lastly, I am the teammate. I encourage, cheer on and revel in my teammates success. All three versions of “me” will make me a victor at the United States Air Force Academy. I will compete, succeed, lead, coach, support and encourage… I will be a