Lessons Learned

Throughout my life, one of the most important things I have learned is to never take anything for granted. I would consider myself to be an incredibly grateful person, which allows me to come to the realization that I am very blessed. I have a family that loves me, which is something that a lot of people in this world do not have. The people I associate with on a daily basis have definitely changed me for the better. They have shaped me into who I am and I could not be more appreciative for everything they have done for me. They have showed me that it is important to always stay strong, no matter what and to never give up. I have learned to be dependable, respectful, and kind to others and to stick up for the things I believe in.

The date was

Around the age of six, I was invited to be on the competitive gymnastics team at the gym I went to. At my very first meet, I got first place on every event. Eventually, my attitude towards the sport changed a bit and I started begging my parents to let me quit. Being in level 7, I was learning very difficult tricks and I was constantly fearful of getting hurt, which ended up holding me back from doing the things that I was capable of. I was tired of going to practice almost every day and I felt like my entire childhood was being wasted at a place I did not want to be. It took three years for my parents to finally allow me to quit. From the twelve years of being a gymnast, I learned that whenever I am in a tough situation it is important to try to overcome it as best as I can and to keep living my life to the fullest. During gymnastics competitions, if I ever fell off the beam or stumbled on the floor, it was important to get back up and continue the routine as if nothing happened. There were several times where all I wanted to do was give up, but I overcame that, and I think it is a valuable lesson that I learned from being such an athletic