I've spent the majority of my life on the ice. I picked up my first pair of skates (or my parents did) when I was 5 years old. I started in what they call learn to skate classes, skating about once a week. Once I tested my way through the first 10 or so levels, I was expected to start competing and committing much more time to the sport.

Even though I was only ten years old, the decision to compete came easy to me. What came along with this decision was: private coaching 3 times a week- 6am sharp, missing weeks of school to travel, conditioning classes, ballet classes, summer camp, and group classes. This was a big commitment for someone so young but I knew nothing else.

By the time I was in middle school, I was on the national team for synchronized skating and working my way up competing solo as well. The time commitment only grew. I had to miss birthday parties, participating in school sports, etc. all important events to a pre-teen; I felt like my relationships weren’t growing like everyone else's and I was left behind.

I fell out of love with the sport. Without passion, I peaked where I was in ninth grade and never progressed further. I felt like a disappointment. Once a hot-shot with a chance at a big future in the sport, now just a 15 year old who just can spin and jump on ice. With that being said, I stepped back. I only skated a few hours a week and left the national team.

The summer before sophomore year of highschool I took completely off. I learned a lot of things this summer, but mostly is that I missed it. Not just winning, medals and competition- not at all. I missed the community, my teammates, and my coaches. I lost a part of my life and family when I took that summer off. I returned the next fall as a student coach, and it was the best decision of my life. I fell in love with coaching and eventually had classes of my own at 16 years old.

The picture I included in this bio is me at my last ice show, senior year. I was recognized as a coach and appeared as a guest skater to perform one last time. Figure skating taught me that change is okay! Adaptation and fluidity is necessary in life; your original plans probably won’t work out and I’m glad I got taught this at such a young age.

I can't express enough gratitude that I spent the majority of my life on ice.