Gone But Not Gone

I first touched the ice on a cruise when I was 4-year-old. No words could explain my experience, even though I clung to the wall and held my mom’s hand. Through this new magical feeling of soaring across the ice and the frosty breeze blowing in my face, I developed a heart for skating. After realizing how much I loved skating, my parents supported me financially through many sacrifices that I am truthfully grateful for to enable me to take expensive practice sessions and lessons. Seeing how much my parents invested and believed in me helped to motivate me further to be the best in ice skating. With hard work, dedication, and constant practice, I skipped being in snowplow and passed the basic and freestyle levels in a very short time. Every day until now, I have been working as hard as I can by using all the time I have to practice. Though sometimes I become distressed, I still get up and skate my best. I went on with my skating career to become an Olympic champion and an Ice-skating coach until little did, I know I had missed out on something big.

One morning, while stretching, I received a notification on the phone from my mom regarding a video called RISE. At first, I did not want to watch it because I was not interested in history, but I did, and I am glad I watched it. As the clip played, I was inspired by all the skaters they had highlighted. I learned more about the incredible ice-skating champions like Maribel Vinson Owen, Laurence Owen, Diane Sherbloom, Larry Pierce, Doug Ramsay, Stephanie Westerfeld, Sharon Westerfeld, and some coaches. I learned that these figure skaters brought the audience to the ice-skating rink, got creative, and poured out their hearts during competitions. Then suddenly, someone in the video mentioned the plane crash. I paused the video. How come no one told me about this? I continued to watch the video as my heart sank. All the accomplishments that these fantastic people had reached were wasted. That is what I thought, of course. But my thoughts were wrong. Though this event caused much weeping and loss of hope, it helped raise new generations to reach out to those who want to achieve their goals during challenging times. By listening to the hosts, the multiple retired Olympic Champions, and the families that knew these skaters, I understand that this goal is what the fallen skaters would have loved to accomplish in their lifetime.

For example, Laurence Owen was the daughter of Maribel Vinson Owen, an Olympic Medalist, and a smiler. I learned from the video that she had a playful heart and noticed that she spread her smile on and off the ice in every photo. Her performance showed personality and indeed exhibited the wonders of ice skating. I also wanted to point out her mother, Maribel Vinson Owen. She was a strict coach, but at the same time, her heart was open to teaching and sharing with the new generations how to skate. We cannot forget about Doug Ramsay. I heard he would practice his jumps with his hands in his pockets and fold his arms during programs! His creativity inspired me to look beyond the borders of my skating skills.

Though they had significant accomplishments, their lives flew past them. Their stories deeply moved me, and I wanted to apply them to my skating skills. Moving forward, I aim to think positively and use this memorable event to hope, support, and help other children experience this sport. As an ice-skating coach, I will use this opportunity to share my skills with the world and encourage them to keep working and fighting for their dream. Just as how these skaters did.