Many people think rollerskating is an easy hobby that comes immediately and is something that everyone is great at, but they are wrong. It's actually extremely difficult when you just start, especially when you wake up the next morning covered in scrapes and bruises. I was once wrong too. I learned that the hard way when I first started skating.

       It was a lovely day last summer; the sun was shining, the wind was blowing, it wasn't too hot, or too cold. It was just right. I was at my friend Lily's house along with our other friend Tyler. Our day was coming to an end at around five o’clock. A few minutes before my dad came to pick me up, my other friend, Bri, texted me.

       “Do you want to go roller skating with Jackie and me later at 7:00?” 

       I hesitated to answer. I wanted to go, I really did, but her house was an hour away, and it was already almost 6:00. Eventually, I decided to accept her invitation because the last time I went I was a baby and wanted to try to actually get good at it and see if I liked it. 

       “Sure, but I'm at my friend's house right now. My dad will be here in a few minutes, so I'll ask him then!!” I told her.

       “Okay!!!! I really hope you can!” she replied within seconds, almost as if she knew I would say yes.

       Eventually, probably about thirty minutes later, my dad arrived to pick me up. I said my goodbyes and thank yous and then left. While my dad and I were in the car I popped the question.

       “Can I go rollerskating later with Bri and Jackie at 7:00?”

       He hesitated. “Their house is an hour away, are you sure you can get ready that fast?”

      “Yes! Yes! I’m sure I can! Please can I go?”

       He hesitated again. “We’ll see, text your mom and ask her.”

       “Yay! Okay! Thank you!”

       At that point, I was dying of excitement. I texted my mom the second he told me to. I anticipated her reply as I watched her type.

       “Sure kid, have fun. You guys stopping home first?”

       “Dad, she asked if we are stopping home first, are we?”

       “Yeah, we have to.”

       “Alright!”

       “Yeah, we are. Thank you!” I told my mom.

       Once we got home I immediately started getting ready. I couldn't help but fear the possibility that we could be late as I stepped into the car.

       An hour later, we arrived. Luckily, we were only a few minutes late. I stepped out of the car, soon greeted by Bri.  “Come on, we have to go like right now!!” she told me, pulling my arm.

       I pulled away and ran over to my dad. “Bye dad, love you!” I said, hugging him.

       “Love you too, kid, have fun. Be safe. Make good choices.”

       “I will! Bye!” I said, pulling away and running over to Bri and Jackie’s car. 

       Once we arrived at Rollerama, we all jumped excitedly out of the car. We walked quickly to the entrance, pulling the doors open once we got to it. While we waited in line was when the anxiety set in. That tiny voice in the deepest part of my brain kept whispering, “You’re gonna fall. You’re going to fail. Everyone will laugh at you.” Over and over. I tried to ignore it, but it just kept getting louder, as if it was rising from the depths of the ocean. 

       Once it was our turn in line to get tickets, the voice suddenly sunk back into the deepest trench of the treacherous sea. The first thing I had to learn was how to stand without face planting. I was like a baby trying to take its very first steps. Not as easy as it sounds. I held on tightly to Bri and Jackies mom's hand as I stumbled onto the rink. As I attempted to walk my legs felt as if they were made out of jello as I slid onto the hardwood floor. My knees ached. My bruises stung. My legs twisted and turned as I attempted to stand back up. Once I stood back up I tried again. Fall. Try. Fall. Try. It was a back-and-forth thing. If I fell, I got back up. Then I fell again. I wanted to give up. But the spark inside of me that made me keep getting back up drowned out all of the voices in my head. No more of it telling me that I can't. No more of it telling me I am a glass figure that will shatter the second I fell. Because I wasn't and I'm still not. I hugged the wall and skated to the edge of the rink. I stepped off and sat down with my friend's mom. Bri followed close behind to ensure I didn't fall. Bri, Jackie and I all got slushies to cool down and just sit and relax.

       The relaxation didn't last long. I felt the fear drain out of my body as my favorite song came on. I stood up and darted towards the entrance of the rink. Bri struggled to keep up since I left so unexpectedly. I stepped onto the rink, allowing the music to fill my ears. I felt like it was carrying me. I didn't care about falling. I just had to do it. So, I did. And that was the best I did that entire time I was there. 

       I learned a lot that day. You can't just give up after failing once. You have to stick with it because failing is the only way you can succeed and thrive. Plus,  if you don't get it right away, don't stop. I've gotten a lot better because I've been going roller skating more lately! Just keep trying and being patient. It's okay to be a baby taking its first steps. The first one is always going to be the hardest.

-Delilah A.