Expert: Dr. Bruce Forciea - 8/31/2009

Question
Dear Dr.Bruce,

I am a 16-year old figure skater (in ISI FS 4/5) who started out skating 2 years ago, and developed an intense passion to become "the best" and go to the Olympics. This summer, when I realized how difficult these goals are and that my skating paled in comparison to what I wanted to achieve, I began to feel depressed and low  every time I skated, crushed that my dreams wouldn't come true. As a result, my skating has suffered and I can't bear the way I skate anymore! I don't even feel like skating anymore because I'm so bad at it (or that's at least how I feel now) but I don't know how to tell my parents who are very supportive and have invested a lot of money and time in this. Am I just being silly? Why have I suddenly plummeted so low in skill and interest level?

Answer
HI Samantha:

It is natural for teens (and everyone else for that matter) to experience ups and downs. What is important is to examine not only your goals but what you have achieved in skating. There are many benefits to being a skater besides training for the olympics. Skating is a wonderful activity that promotes fitness, well-being, a sense of accomplishment, life enrichment and much more. As a parent I would gladly invest in my daughter's participation in skating, not for her desire to become a world class skater but all of the other positive aspects of the sport.

You have already reached a level (FS 4/5) in your sport that probably exceeds what many of your classmates have achieved in their activities. You should be proud that you have come this far.

I used to tell my students who went through such "blue" periods that life has a tendency to run in cycles. If you can just ride out the low cycles things tend to eventually get better...

I wish you the best in your skating...

Bruce