Collegiate skating is full of opportunities for athletes, many of which I never considered prior to the college search process. Growing up as a singles skater, I had no idea how many avenues for participation in skating there were for collegiate athletes. Becoming a collegiate athlete has reignited my passion for skating because I have had the chance to try so many new things and become a part of a team. Whether it be through intercollegiate skating, synchronized skating or events like the U.S. Collegiate Figure Skating Championships, there is programming for skaters of all backgrounds to try and love.

My focus used to be strictly on practicing individual skills, passing tests and going to competitions. Now that I am a member of an intercollegiate team and a collegiate synchronized skating team, my focus has shifted. I am working hard to develop my communication skills, take on leadership responsibilities and improve my skating to benefit my team. What's become most meaningful to me in my collegiate skating journey is stepping outside of my comfort zone by trying new things and growing as a person.  

Solo compulsory dance was my first opportunity to try something new as a collegiate athlete. I never imagined myself learning ice dance, but after some gentle nudges from my coach, I decided to give it a try. I thought it would be easy, but it felt like I was learning how to skate again for the first time! I learned foundational skills like progressives, body alignment, extensions, patterns and more. What I didn't know at the time was that I was also learning valuable skills that would benefit me in all areas of my skating.      

Another adventure in my collegiate skating career so far has been becoming a synchronized skater. Suddenly, I found myself alongside 15 other skaters, trying to match every step, count and facial expression. I heard new terminology every day. It was like learning a brand-new language! With encouragement from my teammates and coaches, I grew very quickly. I began with Adrian's open collegiate team and moved onto the collegiate team after one season. I continue to see improvement in myself every day.  

The most important things I will take away from my experience as a collegiate athlete are the precious memories and bonds I've made with my skating family. I would never have experienced so many life-shaping moments had I not taken the leap and decided to try something new. Looking back at my skating career, my favorite moment won't be doing a clean program at Regionals in high school by myself. It will be cheering on my teammates at intercollegiate competitions or singing our school's fight song in the kiss and cry at the U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships. 

If you can join a collegiate skating program and try a new discipline of skating, be open-minded and know that there will be challenges along the way. You will feel completely out of your comfort zone, but your teammates and coaches will be right there to believe in you and guide you. It's okay to be frustrated when learning new things but you need to allow yourself to be a beginner. Ask questions! Asking for help is a sign of strength. Nothing worth doing is easy, and the biggest challenges come with the greatest rewards. You will not only become the skater you want to be, but you will become the person you want to be. 

Naomi Wong is a 2020-21 Collegiate Ambassador and member of the Adrian College Varsity Figure Skating and Collegiate Synchronized Skating Teams.