Personal Narrative: My Life As An Ice Skater

Do you ever remember when you were a kid and wanted a toy but never got it what did you do?

I was about to skate next in my figure skating competition. The pressure was swirling in my head like cotton candy. “I’m so nervous. I don’t think I’ll skate my best,” I told my coach. She shook her head and said, “Meghan, you worked so hard before this competition. Do not be nervous. Just believe in yourself.” Suddenly, a light had been turned on in my brain. Turns out, I just had to believe that I could skate well. I was capable of doing the possible what I thought had been the impossible. Not only was I ready to prove to everyone that I was a strong skater, I was ready to prove to myself how strong I was. “Our next skater is Meghan McNabb,” the announcer called. I skated onto the ice confidently, keeping the worry out of my head. I struck

Second year as an Under-10 Squirt level hockey player for the New Jersey Colonials ice hockey team proved to be a challenging and harrowing experience that shaped the course of my future hockey career. I was a determined, naïve child with fantasies of playing in the NHL when I grew older. The source of my troubles began with Coach Ruben, a relentless, unforgiving hockey coach. Coach Ruben was in charge of determining the AAA hockey team that I desperately wanted to make. Unfortunately, I would not have that opportunity. My mom, compassionate and sympathetic, guided me through the confusing maze of anger and depression. My dad, a coach and former hockey player, gave me valuable, supportive advice that would change my hockey expectations and

Concussions aren't fun but tough hope helps. If you always believe it will be okay, it will be. My concussion made. Me realize tough hope really helps. My concussion made me realize tough hope really helps.

It was a very cold winter day in December. I was heading off to a hockey game just like any other day. My dad screamed down the steps, "Ryan, did you pack your bag? We got to go!" My dad never wants to be late for hockey or feel rushed to get there. I woke up earlier than normal on this day in December. My inline hockey games were not typically early, but this day in particular, it was at 8 am. I skipped breakfast at home, but my dad asked, "Do you want something small from McDonald's?" I said, "Sure!" I enjoyed the hashbrown from McDonald's as I knew I would eat a bigger meal after the game.

I was unable to find an activity that I liked and so I decided that I would make one when I get to Rowan. A couple of months ago I had my last Sled Hockey Banquet and if you don’t know what Sled Hockey is, I will explain it to you. Sled Hockey is a sport similar to Ice Hockey, but sitting down. This is for those who can’t play normal stand up Ice Hockey. There are these sleds with bars and blades under a bucket that support us and two mini Hockey sticks that help us move on the ice. This sport was everything to me and I will miss it and my goal is to try to make Sled hockey at rowan. I want to incorporate this to Rowan because I know some students are going to have the same issue as me and I want to change that. It doesn’t even have to be

Today was the day. As I woke up I wondered about the day ahead of me. Once I got up I looked out the window, the bright light shining in my face. I took a quick second to adjust my eyes, and realized that it had snowed almost 9 inches. “This is going to be interesting,” I thought. It was the day of the annual pond hockey tournament. The small town of about 500 people participate in the tournament. As I get ready to go, I debate what to wear. I finally decide on warm pants, thick jacket, a hat, gloves, and hand warmers along with my skates and gloves.

Everything had led up to this moment. There were the remaining two finalists at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games, ready to risk it all. I tensed my shoulders, ready to make the final jump that would land me onto the podium. After jumping off the bed and nailing a perfect landing, I was an all American gymnast. I ran toward the makeshift gold medal, a marvelous sight made of a single dollar coin taped to a piece of yard. I looked backwards to see how the other finalist had fared, and every compelling emotion swapped places for a single word: dread. Forty minutes later, we were at JFK’s emergency center, awaiting the results of my brother’s MRI.

There I was sitting in the locker room, It made my legs start to shake just watching other people fall.“You’ll do fine” my mom says to me as I tie my skates. “You’ve been preparing all day long” she said, I thought about it and she was right I will do fine I just got all this new stuff I can’t give up now. I knew I would do great I was just scared I would fall over with all these people watching. “Well here I go” I thought to myself as I finish up tying my skates.

During ski season, I spend an average of 22 hours a week with my teams. The sport of ski racing has taken up a huge part of my life, and thus has affected my life in innumerable ways. I have been skiing since I was four years old, but started racing in 7th grade. My freshman year, I quickly realized that hard work was necessary to get what I wanted. I had to choose between skiing on both teams, my grades, and other activities if I was going to pursue them with the dedication with which I wanted. It really wasn’t a choice to me. I chose a hard course load and skiing over a number of other activities that I could have pursued. Staying involved while maintaining my 3.78 GPA has taught me a lot about time management and leadership, and has

From a young age, I started figure skating. At around the age of nine, I began a part of the first synchronized skating team at the rink. I continued doing this until we no longer had enough people at my small local rink. I used to come do an off-ice class on Tuesday and would hear and occasionally watch a new team of skaters, who competed Theatre on Ice. The next year I decided to join the team. That year was the first year that we broke up into two teams. I was on the open team which consisted of thirteen other skaters. After about seven months of practicing, we heading to the national competition in Cape Cod, MA. I did not have high expectations for how we were going to place because the same team the previous year did not place well.

I take a deep breath, attempting to stop the shaking of my body. I stand still for a long time, too long, before I finally swing my arms and flip myself backwards. My hands barely graze the beam before they slip off, and I find myself flat chested on the beam in front of everyone at the competition. All I can think at this moment is that there is no possible way this has happened to me again.

The Winter Classic is a once every year event that takes place every New Year’s Day. It is a special game that thee National Hockey League puts on where two teams get to play a game outside instead of the usual indoor game. The 2011 Winter Classic happened to be taking place right here in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. I as the hockey fan I am naturally wanted to go to it. I had brought up the idea of going as merely a suggestion a “Hey wouldn’t this be cool” type of thing. I was not thinking that anything would come of it just expecting it to forgotten about. Then we flash forward to Christmas morning of that year I am just about done taking in all of my presents and my mom said I have one more present left. I sat there wondering to myself what

As I timidly stepped onto the ice for the first time, I was overcome with an immediate rush of exhilaration. I grasped my mother’s hand while shuffling my quivering legs, struggling to impress the experienced skaters who zoomed passed me. After a couple of leisurely laps around the rink, I let go of my mom, and took my first few glides, instantly, falling of course. Discouraged but motivated, I got on my feet, and continued to skate. At the young age of four, I had fallen in love with hockey.

I, all my life have been one hundred percent dedicated to skateboarding. It started when I was just six years old. It has always been my favorite thing to do. I’ll be honest, I am good at it, and I have always competed well. But then I got to this point where, I was not so sure if it was for me. I questioned my skill, and love for skateboarding. You are going to find out what exactly happened.