The first thing in my life that I felt truly passionate about was gymnastics. While most girls obsessed over dating and boys, I became hooked on tumbling, leotards and balance beams. After I was inspired by the Atlanta Olympics, I wanted to start gymnastics seriously again. I enjoyed gymnastics when I was younger, but I never saw the competitive side of the sport. I had always been a competitive person, but there was something about competitive gymnastics that caught my eye.
I searched for gyms until I found Galaxy . I began to practice there once a week for an hour and forty-five minutes. I loved it and was improving rapidly. However, I was not satisfied with simply “having fun.” I wanted to be on the competitive team and to train four hours a week. I wanted to eat, sleep, and live gymnastics. Through a year and a half of hard work and determination, I made the Galaxy Gymnastics team and fulfilled my dream of becoming a competitive gymnast.
I started in level five my sophomore year in high school. Once I accomplished my dream, I thought I would be satisfied. Instead, I had a desire to accomplish more and so my new goal was level six. I didn’t make it that year, however, and I remained in level five for a second year. This turned out to be one of my best years because I placed highly in so many meets. I spent my senior year in level six, training fourteen hours a week. Almost every week there was a new struggle to overcome or fear to face. I had nightmares about flyaways, backwalkovers on beam, and roundoff backhandspring backtucks. It was hard for me, especially because I was starting at such an old age. I relied heavily on my teammates for support and encouragement through these times. I formed lasting friendships with many of the girls at the gym. We all share a common passion and spend so much time together that I doubt I will ever forget any of them. I have traveled to places I never would have seen and met people I never would have met if not for gymnastics. What I learned from this experience will stay with me the rest of my life. I became a harder working and goal oriented person. I have experienced the value of teamwork first hand.
In March of my senior year I competed in my last gymnastics competition. I must say it was a bittersweet event. I was happy that it was over so that I could concentrate on my better sport, track and field. I thought I was ready to focus completely on that. I was tired from training so many hours a week. But, how could I just leave all of this behind? How could I leave my teammates who were always there for me and my coaches who had spent so many hours trying to make me the best I could be? I would no longer march out onto a competition floor, salute a judge, or climb a medal stand to accept a medal. The irony was that I have had a successful career, but did not win a medal at my last competition. At the end of the meet my head coach Jamie announced to the crowd that this would be my last competition at Galaxy. Already teary eyed, I rose to be acknowledged. Then I cried. Not because I did not receive a medal, but because it was all over. I got hugs from teammates’ mothers, my coaches, my friend who came to watch, and my family. What I finally realized that day was that gymnastics, for me, had been a journey, not a destination. When I look back, I will not remember my last meet, but rather all of the memories of accomplishing my dream.