By Elizabeth Misson
For the class of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly changed how you thought your final months of high school would play out.
Proms have been canceled, graduation ceremonies put on hold, and precious time with friends has been replaced by online learning and virtual visits.
But like many athletes, this pandemic has affected more than just your life in the classroom.
How many of you were trying to pass one more moves in the field, free skate or ice dance test before heading to college? How many of you were planning to compete one last time? How many of you were looking forward to being recognized as a graduating senior in your club ice show?
As we navigate the changes that 2020 has thrust upon us, I encourage you to think about one more change:
How about changing your plans to hang up your skates after graduation?
For as long as I can remember, the word “commencement” has been associated with an ending – the end of high school, the end of college...you get the picture.
But as a high school teacher of mine once reminded me, the word “commencement” actually means “a beginning or start.”
So, here are my five reasons why you should re-imagine the end of your high school years as the “start” of your post-high school skating life:
1. Fitness and Health
A 2018 study shows that after age 17, there is a large drop-off in the number of young adults, especially women, who are active in sports. As you inch closer to your 20s, you may not be super-concerned about your health and well-being – after all, you’re still young, right?
Well sort of – experts say once you hit your 30s, your body stops making new bone – so even though you may not be worried about osteoporosis now, how active you are throughout your 20s will determine the strength and health of your bones much later on.
2. New Collegiate Opportunities
Do your plans after high school include college? If so, do you know about collegiate skating opportunities? Perhaps your university has a synchronized skating team. Even if you’ve never done a pinwheel or a block on your skating life, it’s never too late to start (and I hear it’s really fun!).
Or, imagine taking your starting position at center ice in an arena filled with college-aged athletes cheering you on. The Intercollegiate Competition Series allows university students to compete as an individual while earning points for their schools in a variety of events, including short programs, free skates, pattern dances, solo free dances and team maneuvers.
Did you dream of competing in a National Championship during your high school skating days? You can experience the thrill of competing with some of the top skaters in the country at the U.S. Collegiate Figure Skating Championships, where opportunities are available to skaters at levels from intermediate through senior.
3. Learn to Teach
Passing down the knowledge of what you’ve learned from a lifetime of skating is a rewarding experience like no other. Whether you’ve dreamed about coaching competitive skaters someday, or you’re excited by the sight of seeing little faces light up with joy as they take their first steps on the ice, becoming a Learn to Skate USA instructor is the place to start. One of the best benefits of becoming an instructor is that you can continue to teach, even part-time, for years to come, even while you pursue a fulltime career or raise a family.
4. Adults Skate Too
Have you ever been to an adult skating competition? If you haven’t, I highly recommend it. Hundreds of hard-working adults sharing the love of skating and supporting one another through camaraderie and friendship. There’s a reason why adult skating has never been more popular. Even if competing isn’t your thing, did you know that there are tests designed specifically for adult skaters? You can even pick up where you left off in your standard skating tests and transfer your skills to the adult structure to try new challenges at any age.
5. Personal Growth and Mental Health
Speaking from personal experience, when you never actually retire your skates, there is so much more that skating can give your life past your high school days. I’ve finally reached the point in my life where I’ve skated more years after high school graduation than I did before. In that time, I’ve overcome many challenges, but the one thing that has remained constant has been the ice. No matter how bad I’m feeling, I can always get on the ice and turn my feelings into creative energy.
Whether you choose to develop new skills with contemporary skating (there are various opportunities such as American Ice Theatre, Ice Theater of New York or even Theatrical Skating) or you just want to get on the ice and move around to some music, the ice is your playground and your canvas. It’s a wonderful way to escape the complexities of adult life, while holding on to the joy that you had on the ice as a child.
Because when you never hang up your skates, there is a part of you that never really grows old.
Elizabeth (Steck) Misson is a U.S. Figure Skating triple gold medalist. She has been a Learn to Skate USA program director in Brooklyn, Ohio, for 20 years. She has been skating since the age of 3, and doesn’t plan to stop anytime soon.
