I Found My Inner Champion

My Big Moment

I saw the final cut of the program the day it aired on TV. It all came back -- how I could barely walk because my muscles were sore from practice; how my confidence kicked in as soon as I heard the music; how, when it was over, I wanted to do it again. The woman on the screen looked so happy. I thought, My God, that's me! I didn't want to lose that sense of pride and determination, and I knew there was little chance of me being offered another shot at reality TV to help me sustain it. So I re-created it for myself.

In the two years since my performance, I've stepped over many of the arbitrary boundaries I used to be afraid to cross. Even little things (sticking with figure skating, painting one wall in my living room red when all white would have been safer, planning a solo overseas trip) have helped me develop a broader definition of who I am and what I want. It's so clear to me now that nothing happens unless I make it happen. Action is always better than inertia; mistakes can be fixed. And whenever I'm feeling unsure and hesitant, I recall a comment of Peter's that I didn't hear until I watched my TV debut. After my routine, the camera cut to him and he said, "She has the spirit of a champion."