After my mom overcame her initial panic upon learning that I would be completely blind, she embarked on a quest to provide me with the best opportunities in life.
She had read in a publication that roller skating was great for developing balance. She visited the local skating rink to learn how to get me involved. Little did we know that I believe this was one of the most significant moments in my life.
Skating into the Unknown
The skating instructor was a little hesitant, but encouraged my mom to enroll me in the Saturday group classes.
The first Saturday arrived, and I remember we zigzagged through the maze of rails in the lobby, and someone buzzed us in the front door. The acoustics were amazing as we entered a giant open area filled with music, laughter, sounds of arcade games, and more. We walked along a wall until we reached a carpeted counter. This was the skate room where all of the skates were stored. An attendant asked for my shoe size and then rolled a pair of high-top suede skates across the counter to me.
I remember cradling my skates in one arm and using my cane in the other hand to find a place to sit down and lace up my skates.
I found a large mushroom-shaped stool covered with carpet to sit on, and then I just soaked up all of the noise around me. I could tie my shoes, but I had never felt the eyelets on a pair of skates, and I didn’t have a clue how to start at the bottom and pull them tight and then move to the next ones. My mom helped me as I struggled to pull them tight, but that would be one of the last times she had to help me lace my skates.
Finding My Balance—Literally and Figuratively
Since this was a beginner class, the wheels were tightened so they wouldn’t roll too fast. I fit right in with all of the beginners, even though I was the only child who was blind. None of us could skate, and we could barely stand up. We found our way to the wall and walked along until we reached a rail that ran the length of the long side of the skating rink.
There was a speaker in the middle of the rink, and I used that as a sound source. Using echolocation, there were two solid walls: the one with the rail on the long side of the rink, and then the shorter wall across the end of the rink, where the lights were. The other two walls of the perimeter were concrete block and were about 2 1/2 feet high. If you were close enough, you could use echo location to hear them.
The next couple of months were filled with numerous falls and learning the technique to get back on your feet. This concept of getting back up no matter what was something I would soon adopt in all facets of life. Eventually, my wheels did not need to be tightened, and I received my own pair of skates for Christmas. My friends from school and I would spend most Saturdays and Sundays at the skating rink, making new friends and getting plenty of exercise.
Choosing Skating and Chasing Dreams
I had been enrolled in tap dance lessons, and my mom told me I would have to choose between tap dance and skating. I didn’t think twice and told her I wanted to continue with my skating lessons. The rink had an artistic club for compulsory dance and freestyle skating. This is identical to ice skating in the Olympics.
I progressed through the proficiency test in both dance and freestyle. Dancing meant skating with a partner to waltzes, tangos, and blues, and memorizing the steps. The steps followed a pattern that had to be executed at certain places on the skate floor. Of course, this all was in time with the music. In freestyle, you learned individual elements, such as mohawk jumps and spins, and choreographed a routine to music that you selected. I oriented myself on the skating floor with the large speaker in the center and then used echolocation for the perimeter reference points.
Competing, Traveling, and Breaking Barriers
My partner and I soon began traveling to local roller skate competitions and competing in our respective age groups. I wore a special skate dress decorated with elaborate sequins and rhinestones while my partner wore a tuxedo. I was in the 6th grade, and my partner was in 8th grade. We started spending our weekends traveling to regional competitions in other states. Eventually, we qualified for the Junior Olympics in team dance.
I loved and still love skating because I met so many wonderful people. I learned and perfected skills. I am thankful to have learned proper posture and good physical fitness. My partner and I skated with other teams that didn’t know I was blind. When they realized that I was blind, it was a great opportunity to show that people who are blind are capable of pursuing their goals and dreams.
Coming Full Circle
Little did I know that years later I would find myself back in a skating rink, skating with and teaching my son how to roller skate. Instead of dancing, he chose to speed skate.
Lessons Beyond the Rink
The training and competing were not always fun or easy, but I learned how to concentrate and focus. I learned how to set goals and the importance of preparation and communication in achieving success. I also realized that achieving my own goals helped break down barriers for others. I always hope that my accomplishments motivate others to set high expectations and strive to reach new heights. I firmly believe that my involvement in roller skating has laid a solid foundation for everything else I have accomplished in life.
So, roller skating may not be for you, but I hope that you find something you enjoy and embrace the challenge.
Editor’s Note: The confidence, self-awareness, and social skills gained through hobbies like roller skating do more than enrich your free time—they build a strong foundation for career readiness. Whether it’s learning to problem-solve, communicate with others, or push through setbacks, these experiences translate directly into the workplace.
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