Posted by Anonymous on 2014/12/23 under Uncategorized When I was in first grade I took lessons and learned how to ice skate. I used to tell my parents that one day I would be able to compete in the Olympics and bring home the gold for my family; that was my lifelong dream. Unfortunaty, about a year later, I quit because I kept falling and I thought I could never skate like the pros. My parents were very nice and allowed me to quit. Even though I am glad they support my decisions; a part of me wishes that they would have encouraged me to continue and skate through the pain. I am now 16 years old and quitting skating is my biggest regret so far. When I go to the rink, I see little kids practicing and I see teens my age skating gracefully. I stare at them thinking to myself, what could I have become if I didnt quit. Thoughts rush through my mind, “why did you quit” “that could’ve been you”. I will always regret my decision back when I was 6. Now that I am this old, my bones have hardened and I am not very flexible anymore. I can only lay down and think about how my life would have changed if I had continued and went on to competitions. My biggest dream is to be able to get my own pair of skates, start lessons and even though I may not be at a competitors level, I will still be able to live my dream and be able to spin, do loops, jumps, and maybe a single or double axel. However, skates are expensive and so are lessons so until I can save up for that, all I can do for now is practice by skating on rental skates. Thank you for those of you who took the time to read my story, and I encourange you to never give up on your dreams or anything you hope to achieve. You can and you will achieve it, I promise.