Personal Narrative: My Coach Chen

Although no one saw this side of me, in fear of being looked down upon, I was once a very fearful person. I was as apprehensive as a germaphobe in a hospital. Nearly everything frightened me until the day I was thrown my first lifeline, by one of the wisest people I’ve ever met, my coach Chen.
Chen is now and always will be my second father. It is a blessing to have someone as compassionate as him be a part of my life. Although at first glance, being that he is an old Chinese man he may look rather intimidating. Don’t let this fool you though, Chen’s not quite five foot five and the top of his head is beginning to shine like the north star as it becomes apparent that he is growing bald. He’s nothing more than an intelligent, loving coach who wants nothing but the best for each gymnast he works with. …show more content…
As of last year I had a very successful season and even qualified to compete at the regional championships. At regionals you compete against not only people from Washington as you’re used to, but people from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Hawaii, Alaska, and Montana, otherwise known as Region 2. Last year by chance regionals was hosted in Tacoma, WA not even twenty minutes from my house. This was quite a surprise since it was my first year competing at regionals and I was able to compete in the comfort of my home town. Although I was not expecting this luxury I was definitely thankful for it considering I was at that point already remarkably nervous for the competition. Vault in particular alarmed me, something about the fact that what happened last time could possibly happen again terrified me. The previous time that I competed the vault that I was to compete at regionals I psyched myself out and didn’t give it my all. This resulted in me landing short which was nothing less than humiliating, definitely a memory I would give anything to