Gymnastics

 There is nothing like accomplishing something hard or challenging. In fact, I enjoy a good challenge! I did gymnastics for roughly three years at the Wilson School of Gymnastics and Dance. A good friend of mine, Abi Van Kampen, told me about it and my mom and I looked into it. I was super excited because two of my cousins were gymnasts at Penn State and I wanted to be just like them!
I started out in the fifty minute class, but soon discovered that it was too easy and the kids in it were a lot younger then I. Mom switched me to the two hour class and I stay in that one for most of my gymnastics career. I didn’t compete but had intensive training and let me tell you, I definitely got a good workout. The coaches worked us hard on flexibility and I can still do a split!
My favorite thing about gymnastics was whenever I accomplished a really difficult skill such as a tuck jump or a handstand flat back. I would go home and email my cousin Allen, telling him what I did that night. I think he enjoyed hearing about how my gymnastics was going.
Like any sport, injuries can happen. I sprained my wrist doing a skill and then re-injured it three times because I kept going back to practice. The recovery took awhile and I absolutely hated wearing a brace on my wrist for a few months. I was able to return to gymnastics the following season and got right back into it. I still have some trouble with that hand and even got tendonitis, which thankfully went away.
I miss gymnastics a lot but am thankful for the opportunity to do the sport and to be a gymnast for three short years
.