I began gymnastics when I was 5 years old. Like most children, my mom signed me up so that I could release some energy during the day and not bounce off the walls every single night. Little did I know that my life would eventually revolve around this sport and it would shape me into the person I am today.

It's nothing compared to what gymnastics meant to me, but here’s a small thank you letter for all the laughs, tears, friendships, broken bones, sore muscles and many other memories I will forever cherish from the sport that was my whole life:

1. Thank you for pushing me.

Because of you, I learned what it means to challenge myself. You helped me realize my full potential and pushed me to reach for it. Even in difficult times after multiple sprained ankles and broken feet and having to watch my teammates compete while I was on crutches, you pushed me to get back up and continue working hard toward my goals.

2. Thank you for giving me the best of friends.

Gymnast friends have a special connection. They just get each other, whether it's understanding each others' struggles inside and outside of the gym, being each others' biggest supporters or having someone to do handstands with everywhere you go. Thank you gymnastics for giving me lifelong friendships.

3. Thank you for teaching me to have faith in myself.

You taught me to trust myself and my instincts. When I was nervous to throw my tsuk, I had to have faith that I was going to land it. When my heart was pounding as a saluted the judges before my floor routine, I had faith that I would make it through it. That faith that got me through each practice and competition and has stuck with me for my entire life, and I have you to thank for it all.

4. Thank you for giving me an outlet to turn to.

Whether my mom and I were in a fight, I just went through a break up, or was just feeling down, once I entered the gym, all those feelings disappeared. You taught me to take all of my built up anxiety and frustration and turn it into energy and motivation to better myself.

5. Thank you for showing me that hard work actually pays off.

You taught me that if I wanted to reach my goals, I had to put in the effort. Nothing feels better than when you spend hours doing drills and conditioning to try and perfect your front handspring full twist on floor and then stick it perfectly at the meet.

6. Thank you for teaching me to take risks.

You taught me that in order to be successful, you have to take risks. No matter how scary it was to practice straddle backs or throw a back handspring on a four inch balance beam, you taught me that if I never take risks then I'll never know what I'm capable of.

7. Thank you for teaching me to never give up.

Whether it was attempting giants 50 times in a row before I finally made one over, or trying to stick a full turn on beam, you taught me to try as many times as it takes until I get it right.

Finally, thank you for always being a part of me even if I don't still practice and for being there for me to reminisce on some of the best times of my life.

Once a gymnast, always a gymnast.