Silver Moon Gymnastics
Silver Moon Gymnastics has been a place where I experienced a lot of firsts. Not just my first back handspring or first kip, but also my first period, my first job, my first time buying something on my own, my first genuine apology, my first fantasy football league, and even my first girlfriend.
I still remember first stepping foot onto the mini star floor at the old gym, meeting AJ and Tiana, who, by the way, still says hi to me over 10 years after she coached me. I could barely contain my excitement through that first warm up, knowing that in a few minutes I would be able to climb on the bars and bounce on the tumbl trak.
As I moved through the recreational levels at Silver Moon, I had no idea this colorful place where I got my energy out would later become my safe haven.
When I joined JO2, I got my first taste of found family. Putting in, quite literally, blood, sweat, and tears for hours each week creates an unbreakable bond with your teammates. That bond became even stronger when we moved to Level 3 and started competing together. To this day, some of my closest friends are people I met on that Level 3 team.
In 2022, when I fractured my back, sprained my neck, and got a long-term concussion from a bad fall and was forced to quit club gymnastics, I was terrified. Not because the injury was scary but because I thought I was going to lose the community and place I called home. Luckily, my coach Lara threw me a lifeline and suggested I apply to work as a Gold Star coach as soon as I was mobile enough.
I was hired in June of that year and since then the highlight of my week has often been the hours I spend coaching at Silver Moon. It’s an incredible feeling to walk into a place as my fully authentic self and know that not only will I not be judged for it, I will be loved for it.
About a year after my injury, I was cleared to return to gymnastics, so I started attending the Tuesday and Thursday adult classes. It was through those that I began to spend time with Ryan and Lewis, two people who have made a large impact on my life, though they probably don’t know it. Coming back from such an intense injury, I was afraid to try my skills again. Ryan and Lewis helped me work through that fear, so I could return to the sport I love with every fiber of my being. During conversations with Ryan and Lewis, I have laughed hard enough to make my abs more sore than gymnastics conditioning, a hard feat. The pair have also provided me with some of the most real life advice, which I know I’ll use as I go onto college.
When I’m having a bad day, I look forward to heading to the gym whether it’s to work out, coach, or even just study in the staff room. Who knew the smell of chalk, sweat, and foam could be comforting?
There are so many things about Silver Moon that I’m going to miss as I head to college. I’ll miss back flopping into the foam pit and lying there to daydream, I’ll miss the constant waves to people of all ages, I’ll miss witnessing the pure joy on a kid’s face when they get a new skill, and I’ll even miss moving around heavy mats with my colleagues.
Silver Moon has been my home away from home for over 10 years and although I’m saying goodbye to the physical building, I’m not saying goodbye to the people I’ve met along the way. I promise to continue to foster relationships with the people who have supported me throughout my journey. I promise to pay forward the Silver Moon energy of positivity and kindness to all. Lastly, I promise to never forget the lessons I’ve learned from my years at Silver Moon, including how to persevere in the most dire moments and how to wholeheartedly trust others.
I know that on my visits home during college, my first stop will be at one of my many favorite boba places. But my second stop will most definitely be Silver Moon.