Spring Break
Regular struggles
Olivia Vivian
Issue date: 4/17/09 Section: Sports
Moving here has been reasonably easy, but not everything goes to plan. It has seemed like every term has brought a challenging obstacle.
When I arrived in fall term, it took the NCAA three months to clear me. During those three months, I couldn't train with my team. Don't ask me what the problem was, because I honestly don't know what took the NCAA so long. I wanted to ring them up myself and give them a piece of my mind, but I don't think that would have helped my case in any way.
During this period, I went to class and then just hung out all afternoon instead of going to practice. That was hard because I originally came here to do gymnastics, and that was the only thing I wasn't allowed to do. That was a frustrating term.
In winter term, after all the drama of getting cleared, I injured myself. And I didn't even hurt myself doing a huge impressive skill either. I couldn't tell people that I did a twisting flip on the beam and missed my foot or something cool like that.
No, sadly I hurt myself on a split leap. It's the easier skills that get you because you don't concentrate on what you're doing as much. You always have to be aware of everything in gymnastics, otherwise you do what I did and hurt yourself. So that was a huge slap in the head, but it was a foot injury, so I was still able to swing some bars and compete on that apparatus during season.
Then came spring term. This term I was hit by illness. Not much I could have done about this one. This virus prevented me from competing in our national championships this week. I wasn't even allowed to travel with the team, which was disappointing, but such is life and at least this obstacle won't last long. It also gave me the ability to stay in town and not miss any of the math classes that I so desperately need to be here for.
But although these have affected my time here, I'm so lucky to have people that are willing to help me. My coaches, teammates and friends are so supportive, which makes a huge difference to how I approach any hurdle. It's the one thing I first noticed when I moved here to Corvallis. The people here are so nice and always happy to offer you their help.
We all have obstacles in life - it's how we recover from them that counts. So I tackle each one as it comes and say bring on the summer term, which will hopefully be hurdle-free. But if not, then at least I'm in a town that I know will help me get through.
Olivia Vivian, OSU gymnastics
sports@dailybarometer.com
When I arrived in fall term, it took the NCAA three months to clear me. During those three months, I couldn't train with my team. Don't ask me what the problem was, because I honestly don't know what took the NCAA so long. I wanted to ring them up myself and give them a piece of my mind, but I don't think that would have helped my case in any way.
During this period, I went to class and then just hung out all afternoon instead of going to practice. That was hard because I originally came here to do gymnastics, and that was the only thing I wasn't allowed to do. That was a frustrating term.
In winter term, after all the drama of getting cleared, I injured myself. And I didn't even hurt myself doing a huge impressive skill either. I couldn't tell people that I did a twisting flip on the beam and missed my foot or something cool like that.
No, sadly I hurt myself on a split leap. It's the easier skills that get you because you don't concentrate on what you're doing as much. You always have to be aware of everything in gymnastics, otherwise you do what I did and hurt yourself. So that was a huge slap in the head, but it was a foot injury, so I was still able to swing some bars and compete on that apparatus during season.
Then came spring term. This term I was hit by illness. Not much I could have done about this one. This virus prevented me from competing in our national championships this week. I wasn't even allowed to travel with the team, which was disappointing, but such is life and at least this obstacle won't last long. It also gave me the ability to stay in town and not miss any of the math classes that I so desperately need to be here for.
But although these have affected my time here, I'm so lucky to have people that are willing to help me. My coaches, teammates and friends are so supportive, which makes a huge difference to how I approach any hurdle. It's the one thing I first noticed when I moved here to Corvallis. The people here are so nice and always happy to offer you their help.
We all have obstacles in life - it's how we recover from them that counts. So I tackle each one as it comes and say bring on the summer term, which will hopefully be hurdle-free. But if not, then at least I'm in a town that I know will help me get through.
Olivia Vivian, OSU gymnastics
sports@dailybarometer.com
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