“Be the spark that lights the fire.”
When children embark on a new journey it’s important that they have PASSION for what they are doing, because when a child finds passion for something they love there is no stopping them. Gymnastics is a very challenging sport that takes a lot of hard work and persistent effort. For me I had such a deep passion for gymnastics I didn’t mind spending 6 hours a day in the gym, because I thoroughly loved what I was doing and had a firm goal in mind that I was working towards. I was taught to never give up and to push myself even when things got hard. Because I learned how to set and attain goals at a young age, as an adult I have been able to do the same thing in my own personal life. All the accolades I won in my gymnastics career were a result of all the hard work I put in daily to a sport that I was so passionate about. The long hours in the gym, the tears, the sweat and the pain were all worth it when I received a full athletic scholarship. My passion for gymnastics outweighed my frustrations and I knew that good thing would happen if I worked hard to pursue my dreams.
“Follow your passion, be prepared to work hard and sacrifice, above all don’t let anyone limit your dreams.”[–]Donovan Bailey
It’s very important to teach children at a young age to follow their dreams and to do what they are passionate about, because children need to have excitement and enthusiasm for their future. Young athletes need to know and understand that everything takes time and to not get frustrated when things don’t come easy. If I would have given up on my dream the first or the second time I tore my Achilles tendon I wouldn’t have gained the amazing experience I received from going to college and competing for a division 1 school. I knew that coming back from my second Achilles tear would be challenging, but I did it because I had a dream and a passion for gymnastics that burned deep inside of me. Even though I knew my rehab after surgery wouldn’t be easy I still did it, because I was taught to not give up. If a gymnast has a dream, drive and passion that motivates them the sky’s the limit. One of my favorite quotes is by Mos Def and it says “Anything worth doing takes time.” I love this quote because, nothing in life comes easy everything takes time and patience and if your vison and purpose are clear and strong your dreams will come to fruition. Dream Big!
“Strong lives are motivated by dynamic purpose.”[–]Kenneth Hildebrand
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