Gymnastics

Gymnastics is rarely thought of as a lifelong sport, but the attributions it brings to its athletes are extremely applicable in later life situations. My name is Brooke, and gymnastics is something I not only value, but hold very dear to my being; without it I honestly don't know where I would be right now. I am in the gym four to six hours a day, it has forced me to get on top of everything I have to deal with, especially school. Gymnastics has made it a necessity for me to use every minute to my advantage. Gymnasts tend to be really competitive with just about everything whether it be a friendly argument, or an intense game of Monopoly. We have to win. Gymnastics has helped me accomplish so much just because it started the fire in my stomach to win. The  gym has always acted like a second home for me and without it I don't think I would have ever gotten the crazy idea to switch high schools. Without having my 'family' at the gym I think moving to Monarch would have been some distant idea, and I would never get to open myself up to so many new opportunities. Without gymnastics I would be in the same spot I was in two or three years ago, I wouldn't know how to change myself for the better or just how far to push myself. It has taught me that the only limits you face are the ones you build yourself. It has given me the knowledge that hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard, and with that the freedom of knowing I can reach whatever goal I have set.

Images from usagym.org