Chen Xiang
“我”8岁时开始滑冰,至今都记得第一次踏上溜冰场的情景:“我”小心翼翼地向前滑行,但还是一次又一次摔倒了。
Born and raised in Beijing, I beganskating when I was 8 years old. I remem?ber the first time I stepped onto the rink. Iglided forward cautiously.“Be bold!”myfather shouted.“Take a bigger step!”But Ilost my balance and fell again and again.
Even as a young girl, I saw skatingnot only as a sport, but also as my ticket toa top Beijing middle school. I spent mostof my time outside school at the rink. Thenone day, two intense years later, I had hadenough. I told my parents I couldnt do itanymore. Thankfully, my loving father andmother understood. They let me stop. Buteven after I quit, guilt and pressure stayedwith me. My parents had sacrificed somuch for me, and I felt Id failed theirexpectations. Even so, I still enjoyedwatching figure?skating on TV from time totime. I admired the skaters who won honorsfor our motherland. They were realizingthe dream I used to have.
Ten years later, eventually, inspiredby the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games,I put on the skates my father had boughtfor me. I carefully stepped onto the ice at arink. And this time, I was skating withoutpressure, without winning or losing.
To learn to skate, one must get upafter a fall. One cannot learn withoutfalling sometimes or often. I did fall again,but 10 years later Ive finally gotten upagain. I hear the echo of my fathers exhor?tation (敦促) to me as a little girl,“Bebold! Take a bigger step!”
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