15 in 15, Lesson 4: There’s Always Room To Grow
When I was a 13-year-old gymnast, I felt like I was on top of the world. I learned a new skill practically every week, I was perfecting skills that I grew up watching the “older girls” do, and conditioning was very easy for me. At this age, with little to no fear, gymnastics just felt effortless. This is a similar experience for many high-level gymnasts at this younger age.
I thought I was at my peak.
As you can imagine, this didn’t last forever and things began to shift. I eventually wasn’t able to learn skills as easily and I found myself having to work harder to get similar results. But, I was able to adjust and get to where I needed to be each year when the season rolled around. It wasn’t as easy as before, but I found my way.
As I progressed through high school and my level 10 career, gymnastics started to feel natural again. I wasn’t necessarily learning too many new skills at this age, but most of the skills I was competing were second nature. By the time I saluted the judge, I knew I was prepared. When I went to meets, I felt confident. I knew I could compete the routines that I worked hard to perfect in practice. I was so mentally consistent that 13-year-old Taylor would have been in awe.
I thought I was at my peak.
Going into my freshman year of college at Brown University, I was excited to show a new group of coaches and teammates what I could bring to the team. I didn’t know anybody coming into college so I wanted to prove myself worthy of my place. I ended up anchoring the beam line-up for a majority of the season, or at least a lineup position away from it, and was a consistent person in the bar lineup. High school Taylor would have gone crazy had she known this was possible.
I thought I was at my peak.
After transferring to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill after my freshman year, I was once again excited to show what I could bring to my new team. I worked hard and was determined to earn my place. Throughout the season, I remained near or at the anchor position in the beam line-up and was a consistent contender for a spot on bars. Competing at this level for a top Division 1 team was a dream come true. I wish I could go back and tell freshman-year Taylor, who had thoughts of transferring, that it would all work out.
Coming out of this year, I thought I was at my peak.
Looking back after each season of life, I’m always able to appreciate how far I’ve come since the previous one. Every time I think that I’ve hit a plateau and a “No way I can get better than this,” I’m reminded that I’m not done growing. I often think that I am the best I’ve ever been and that my growth will slow down or level out soon, but I always come out much stronger and more capable on the other side.
Through gymnastics, I have learned that there is always room to grow, change, and develop. There is no such thing as staying in a state of plateaued growth forever. As long as I keep working hard toward my goals and keep them close by, my growth will continue to trend upward.
This lesson goes beyond gymnastics. I apply it to all aspects of my life, and it’s something I often find myself coming back to. There is always room to grow, and you will always surprise yourself with where hard work can get you.
See ya soon,
🌟 Taylor
