My name is Jordan Lee and I am 18 years old. I am attending Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, WA on a full ride scholarship. I have been figure skating for eleven and a half years and am a double gold medalist in U.S. Figure Skating. I am currently working on becoming a triple gold medalist. I recently received the opportunity to compete at the Pacific Coast Sectional Championships which will be held in Oakland, CA in November. This is a huge accomplishment for me but in order for me to go, I need all the help I can get to cover the costs of this competition.
I started skating when I was six and a half years old after watching the 2002 Winter Olympics. I told my mom instantly I wanted to be just like the skaters I saw on TV and signed up for group lessons right away. Over the years, I have battled countless injuries and even questioned if I should continue skating because it was so physically and emotionally stressful on me during these times. However, I knew in my mind that I could never give up everything I had worked for to get to that point. My passion for the sport has only grown stronger since those first steps I took on the ice.
A little over two years ago, I broke my ankle during practice and the only way I would be able to return to my rigorous training was to undergo ankle surgery. I remember trying to tell my coach the news and getting choked up. Just the thought of going under the knife and coming out with metal inside my body filled me with fear. Although my choice to follow through with surgery was difficult, I knew it would be worth it in the end.
During my time off, I learned from the coaches and parents that the other skaters looked up to me and what I was going through affected them too. Ever since then, I have tried my hardest to be the best role model I can be for these skaters. I realized my actions were just as important to them as they were to me.
I can still remember the first time stepping on the ice when I finally got the okay to skate again. It was like my passion had been reborn and I had fallen in love with the sport all over again. Even though I still have more than half of my life ahead of me, that first day back in my skates will probably be one of my favorite moments of my life.
That one single moment made me realize how lucky I was to have the opportunity to come back and even be a part of the sport. Today, I am extremely glad the obstacle of breaking my ankle was put in front of me. It has helped me grow tremendously both physically and mentally. During my recovery time, I thought I would never be able to be as strong as I was before the injury but I have brought myself to a point where I am the strongest I have ever been.
Figure skating is my passion and I wouldn't be who I am today without it. Every day I have on the ice, I remember why I started skating and have continued to skate for so long. It gives me a joy nothing else does and has taught me the importance of hard work, dedication, and perseverance. Pushing myself to reach my goals and experience the feeling of success and accomplishment are just some of the amazing things skating has offered me.
My mom is a single mom working full time who has raised both me and my younger sister for ten years. Figure skating is a highly expensive sport, especially since my sister also figure skates. This has made our financial situation very difficult and has presented us with many challenges but she continues to support us and always puts us first. I could not be more thankful for everything my mom does to help us reach our dreams. My journey in this sport would not have been possible without her hard work and endless support.
Jordan competing earlier this month at the 2014 Pacific Northwest Regional Championships
Jordan performing in a LWC ice show
Skating is one of the most difficult of all sports. A program must be perfect or a skater won't advance. A skater only gets one chance while other sports have many games to determine a winner. A skater must express beauty and grace while executing jumps, spins, and technical footwork patterns.
Ice skating gives young ladies self-esteem, self-confidence and self-assurance.
Teenagers who participate in sports earn better grades, have higher goals and are more focused about their future aspirations.
When you support young ice skaters, you are not just donating to a sport, you are giving these young people life lessons that they will take with them into adulthood. Please sponsor Jordan so that she can to Pacific Coast Sectionals in November. Any amount is appreciated!