Inspirational, motivational, aspiraitonal, successful, compassionate-Nastia Liukin.
I had the privilege of listening to a presentation by Nastia and meeting her afterward for some photos and autographs. Sure, I thought she would be interesting to listen to, but I walked away from her speech with more than an expanded knowledge of her gymnastic career. I walked away with words of wisdom and passion, words that made me want to chase down my dreams no matter who says I can't achieve them.
For those of you who don't know, Anastasia "Nastia" Liukin has done pretty much everything. She won several world championships in various gymnastic events, won the 2008 Olympic all-around champion, performed on "Dancing with the Stars," acted in "Stick It" and "Gossip Girl," commentated the Rio Olympics, and has completed countless campaigns and press tours.
However, it is not all of this success that makes her such an admirable role-model.
During her presentation, Nastia told us of many stories of her childhood, her journey through the 2008 Olympics, her attempt at making the 2012 Olympic team, and everything that has unfolded after that. She told us to "never quit on a bad day," which is something that I believe all young people should be told. All too often we quit when the going gets tough, only to come to regret it all later down the road. If you really want to quit, you will want to quit on a good day too, and that's the only time you'll really be able to be okay with your decision without regrets.
Another part of her journey that stuck with me was about her time at the 2012 Olympic trials. During the trials, Nastia began her routine on the uneven bars, only to fall face-first in the middle of the routine. She had two choices: she could leave the arena and never look back, or she could try again knowing she wasn't going to make it through the trials. She chose to get back up and completed the best routine of her gymnastic career. Every single person in the arena stood up for Nastia, and it was in that moment that she realized that people will cheer you on and support you, even when you fail, as long as you give it your all.
I cannot name many people that would try the routine again after falling like Nastia did. It was this event though that completely makes her the person to follow and aspire to be like. She didn't give up. She knew she wasn't going on in the Olympics, she knew her score was going to be low, she believed that everyone was going to sit in silence. They gave her her first standing ovation, which is basically unheard of, especially when a gymnast falls during the routine. Nastia didn't give up though, and that is the most remarkable part of her journey.
Nastia told us to not give up. To chase down our dreams. That sometimes the turning point in our lives don't usually come when we are at the top, they often come when we are face-first on the ground. She has shown to kids that they can start from nothing and become everything that they want to be. She is true to herself and is unapologetic about it. Nastia Liukin is the role model we all really need.
