My childhood consisted of school and gymnastics. I would wake up, go to school, come home, go to gymnastics, and come home and go to sleep. This may sound like it was horrible, but it wasn't. Without my life revolving around gymnastics as a child, I would be a completely different person today.

I started this amazing sport when I was around the age of five, and quit when I was eleven. This was the best six years of my life. Throughout my years of being a gymnast, I met so many amazing people, from my teammates to my coaches. The gym was my second home, and the people in that gym were my second family. I was spending thirteen plus hours a week there, I was probably at the gym more than I was at my own home.

Gymnastics is a year long sport, even in the summer, I would still be in that hot gym while my friends would be swimming and playing outside all day long. That might seem very depressing but it's okay, I had my gymnastics friends that I got to hang out with all of the time. Also, can we just take a moment to talk about how fit I was? I was an eight year old with a six pack! If that isn't the best thing ever I don't know what is.

This sport taught me so much at such a young age. I learned that I should never give up on myself, how to be a good teammate, commitment, and so much more. I couldn't have done this without my parents and my coaches. I want to thank you all for never giving up on me and supporting me even though at times I wanted to give up. It got to the point where I needed to leave the best thing that has ever happened to me behind. There may be times when you want to quit, I get that. Put that leotard on and go get 10 on the bars, beam, vault, and floor. The long hours and hard work will be worth it when it comes to competition season, trust me.

Leaving this sport behind broke my heart, but it was the best thing to do at that time in my life. To this day I still miss the sport but I am thankful for all of the life lessons it taught me along the way. If you are a gymnast, don't take the sport for granted. You won't be able to do it forever, so enjoy it while you can. That's some advice I wish someone told me when I was young. “Gymnastics has made me strong. I feel like it broke me down to my lowest point, but at the same time, it has given me the greatest strength anyone could ask for.” -Shawn Johnson