Risks can be a good thing sometimes. I learned that a few years ago when I got sick at a gymnastics meet. I took the risk of performing anyways. Taking that risk of performing ended up giving me a lot more confidence in gymnastics and my capabilities. When I realized I was sick before the meet I started to panic. Then I realized I had no choice; I had to compete there if I wanted to go to nationals that year. This is the story of how I pushed through a competition while being sick.

My mom and I got to our hotel room late that night before the meet. I tried to get a good night’s sleep so I would be healthy the next day, because it was always one of my worst fears of being sick at a meet. In the morning, I felt so dizzy and thought I was probably nervous. Little did my brain know, I wasn’t nervous. A few minutes later I walked to the bathroom and threw up. I started to panic. My mom called my coaches and asked what I should do.

My coach said, “Come later when your group is about to start and we will see how things go.”

I was still panicking at this point, but my friends started texting me encouraging things and asking me if I was ok. I got enough strength to put on my leotard, makeup and do my hair. I grabbed my bag and went to the arena.

Once I walked in the door, one of my very good friends, Celine, ran across the floor to greet me. “Are you okay?” She asked in the middle of giving me a hug.

“Celine! Don’t hug me I am sick!” I said.

“I don’t care,” Celine said while laughing.

I slowly warmed up and got ready for my routines. About thirty minutes passed, then my group started to be called out ot the floor to perform.

I waited for what seemed like an eternity until I heard the the speaker say, “Helen Yang with hoop, Lauren Michael on deck.”

I slowly walked over to the entrance to watch Helen, who was also on my team and had my same routine. Once she finished I went on the floor to perform. I was shaking during my whole routine, but my routine went okay, except I fell out of a couple of balances and missed some of my leaps. Okay, to be honest I missed all of my leaps. Each routine went by in about two hours, which felt like a blur.

When it was time for awards I walked out onto the floor with my team. I had thirteen  people in my age group including me, which meant I had twelve people to go against. They called the floor results first. I waited while first place was called, then second place, then third, then fourth, the fifth, then my name was called for sixth. I didn’t expect to get anything higher than the last few places. I got 7th in club, 6th in floor, 7th in hoop, and 8th in ball. In all around I got 5th place out of thirteen. My coaches were so happy for me even though I didn't do to good, none of us expected me to get above last place.

I was so happy I performed that day instead of staying at our hotel. That day I learned I can push my capabilities to another level. I also learned that I shouldn't be afraid of taking some risks.