Figure Skating was an integral part of my life for so long that it became normality. While others my age were in public school, I attended online school and homeschool so I could spend more time at the rink practicing for regional competition. I spent my days waking up at 4 AM to go to the rink, either by a 30-minute drive with parents or by an hour long train ride alone. I would skate for 8 hours with breaks for food and Zamboni/Homework. In a mere 4 months, I passed 7 levels of proficiency that had taken others 7 years or more to complete.…
We are only friends. I press to that fact, but still my heart beats a hundred times faster as we dance together. We had spent quite some time choreographing this dance together and here we are: the steps running into a well-rehearsed picture, the artists are us. And though there is no audience, we dance as if there are a thousand watching our every movement.…
Quitting the sport I loved had made me realize that I need to start setting more goals for myself. Before my injury, my goals were mostly just about gymnastics. Now I have to set different goals in real life, which is for the better since I cannot do gymnastics forever. Before my injury gymnastics was all I thought about and I also did much better in school, but I was also more stressed. Gymnastics has taught me so much, especially patience which is why I did so well in school.…
As part of an old high school tradition, hundreds of students crowded into a dimly lit cafeteria and danced until the air hung heavy and sweat glistened off every square inch of exposed skin. The schools that began the tradition of the modern homecoming dance most likely did not expect it to evolve into what it is today; at some point, we, as students, lost the true purpose of the event and instead became preoccupied with image. Even though I would have liked to think that those things did not matter, I still found myself altering my appearance that Saturday night to try and show off the best version of myself. I was not alone; other females joined me amidst a pile of cosmetic products and styling tools, and we had the pictures to showcase…
For over ten years my average day consisted of four main activities: school, homework, gymnastics, and sleep. While school breaks or holidays may have upset three of the four, competitive gymnastics was always a constant. Three hours a day five days a week with no off season left no room for apathy. During my years as a gymnast, I learned the lessons I am sure every athlete is taught— dedication, time management, and determination. However, gymnastics taught me two lessons that other athletes fail to learn thoroughly.…
Kaleena Siers Ms. DiSalle ELA7 asfkgsubc I was in my dad’s white pickup truck slowly making my way to gymnastics practice. All I had been thinking about was trying my roundoff back handspring since I woke up. I had just stopped doing physical therapy for my achilles and was really worried about trying my new flip. I kept thinking in my head how things could go drastically wrong.…
Hi Ms. Pierce, Hope you had a wonderful break and a nice day, The word I would use to describe my break is deciphering because I got a break from dance and school. For example, I was able to sleep to try to avenge the early wakings during school days and early dance practices. In addition to that, I had nothing to be concerned about. Having a break from both school and dance gave me time to think about myself and what I wanted for my future; besides, I was able to unwind. The time I had was crucial to me because sometimes in the middle of all the activities in the year I have no time to think.…
Ballet of Two Brains Doubt, it is the whisper through the night, the cold wind that makes christian 's skin pucker up with goosebumps full of fear and anxiety birthed by the difficult questions. The question that makes a room full of people feel like a raging sea of Sunday school answers answer you were given in 5 grade. Along with people digging trenches packing up their love and concern for you distancing themselves with those words, "I 'll be praying for you," leave you walking away feeling even more alone than you did before. Why is it that we can 't sit in the shadow of the valleys? Why can 't we sit in the darkness with no answers and not feel so alone?…
We all have an idea of what we maybe want to do in life, but sometimes we think we want to do that idea that is in our mind because it is in our mind but other cases we want to do it because the idea is there for the moment. Throughout my life I have never really knew what I wanted to do for my occupation. I thought being of computer science, a writer, and a doctor but those didn’t fit well with who I am as a person. The only thing I am most capable of at this moment is being a gymnastic coach. I have always had a passion, love, and talent for this sport since I was a kid.…
Slowly, I began to get closer and closer to front and center. My sophomore and junior year in high school, I began to flourish and I was blessed with many opportunities. I was scouted by UCLA’s dance intensive program two years in a row, placed in numerous national and world competitions,…
On my birthday last year, 2015, I got tickets to a college gymnastics meet. Not just any team, my favorite team.. MIZZOU! I was so excited that I got to watch the meet front row, meet the gymnasts at the end, and get autographs and go to the tiger store. I couldn’t wait for the next four days!…
Throughout my life, I have always been the shy one, but as I grew up I started to blossom into a whole new person. Since I have been a figure skater, it has open many doors for me when becoming a leader. Within a year of coaching, I was asked to coach the Tot Synchronized Team (age’s four to nine). The team competed at various local competitions, including a larger event in South Lake Tahoe, where they received first place at every event within their category. In addition to coaching the Tot Synchronized Team, my personal coach requested I assist him with his advanced team.…
“Apply all of your corrections, think about everything we have practiced, and have fun! Put your minds to what it is you want to accomplish.” These were the words of my synchronized skating coach before we took to the ice at Nationals. In February 2014, my team and I competed at the U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships in Colorado Springs, Colorado. We had a great season leading up to this point, medaling at all but one competition and only missing that one by about half a point.…
One moment I’m hugging him goodbye, next moment we get the call he died. I began to have a passion for gymnastics before I could remember. I used to prance around my house in a pink tutu from ballet and a leotard, throwing myself into cartwheels and handstands. I never had fear to do anything I ever wanted. My mommom and I loved to play with Barbies and make them do the acrobatic tricks I dreamed of.…
“Blood, sweat, and chalk; never tears.” These words have guided my gymnastics career throughout high school. Pretty much starting from the beginning, I had to re-learn many skills and tricks that I had lost after quitting gymnastics for dance lessons in fifth grade instead of joining the competitive team. I lived for gymnastics and I still do. Walking into the gym always boosts my mood and gives me a rush of determination.…