Blame it on the alcohol - by Jess

Pretty strong, You ever notice in middle school and high school it's the end of the world if you're a little different than your peers but when you get to college and beyond it's all you can do to make sure you different and stand out? Growing up my parents were super strict. Super strict. I had Olympic dreams and my parents had them with me. However, I wanted nothing more but to fit in. I had big muscular legs I wasn't a cheerleader and I was always missing school to travel for competitions. Even if my peers thought what I was doing was awesome and they were supportive or even if they weren't (and trust me there were both) all I thought I wanted was to do what they were doing. They drank and hungout on weekends and my parents would never let me go with them. At the time I was so angry and thought they were controlling, and over protective and just mean. Now? I'm grateful. Regardless of what my friends in high school did on weekends or how their lives turned out, I was on a different path. As a young (trying to be) adult I never thought about the long run. I knew to be an Olympian I'd need to do everything it takes in the gym, to work harder than anyone else, to go above and beyond the rest. What I didn't know is what alcohol would do to my body, how it would effect my recovery or my brain. I didn't know how slow I'd move trying to lift the barbell the next day. I didn't know drinking would heighten my chances of injury. I didn't know staying up all night partying would make me too fatigued to push hard the way I could have if I would have rested. I rebelled from my parents and it took some trial and error to figure it out on my own but I did learn. I learned what priorities really mattered to me. My goals were more important to me than making sure I fit in. I learned that my parents weren't trying to be fun suckers they were trying to do their best to help make my dreams come true and they're intentions were pure. I'm grateful they believed in me so early in my career and stood their ground. Even though we fought about it plenty back then now I see why. Dreams don't fall into your lap and even when they do you have to work to keep them. Making dreams happen takes more then going through the motions, It's a lifestyle choice. I promise there's someone out there that wants it just as bad that works just as hard and makes all the right decisions. So it's your choice are you gonna let them take your Gold medal or are you gonna do everything necessary to keep it? Fearlessly, Jess