Mentorship

My for the past 5 years my mentor has been my gymnastics coach Jessica Freidman. I started gymnastics with her as my coach in 8th grade. I had just moved to California and was living with my cousin, who was a year younger than me, and I tried going to gymnastics with her. She had just started as well. One day in September they passed out a flier for team tryouts. I was brand new and unsure if I would be able to do anything, but the rec coach said we would probably make pre-team. Both my cousin and I went to tryouts where I met Coach Jess. I have been on her team for the last 5 years and it has been so much more than a sport for me. The team Jess built became a place to relieve stress, build friendships, and come into my own as a person.

Coach Jess has been a mentor to me in all aspects of my life, not just gymnastics. She encouraged me as a leader, both at practice and at school. She helped me understand the importance of balance in my life. She has also grown my confidence the way I view myself no matter my abilities relative to others. Even though I started when I was 13 and there are 10-year-olds who are significantly better gymnasts than me. But Jessica's unwavering support in me as a gymnast has allowed me to be comfortable in my own abilities.

Jessica has also taught me that it’s okay to stop if you need to; you don’t have to fight through everything. While I was first dealing with mental and physical health struggles, she let me know that things aren’t ever going to be the same as they were before I got sick, but that it’s okay. She reminds me to take breaks and to take care of myself, while also pushing me to do my best every turn I take.

Jessica puts faith in me to lead the team, not just because I am the oldest, but because of my integrity, independence, and compassion for my teammates. Her faith in me as a leader has fostered pride in myself and helped me develop skills as a leader more broadly.

Jessica has unfailingly encouraged me over the past 5 years in my gymnastics, my academic pursuits, and my fight to make the world better. She has celebrated my acceptance to college and work on school dress codes. Jessica has encouraged me in moving forward with my life. She has taught me how to push myself without hurting myself.

After June 9th I won't do gymnastics probably ever again due to health issues, but the lessons Jess has taught me about how to work hard and take care of my self will never leave my life. In a card, she wrote me for my last home meet she wrote: "please do NOT lose that quality [of being a hard worker] because it will help get you where you want to go in life." I promise that I won't.