On that seemingly average day, I approached the fourteen stair that had once seemed so daunting and thought to myself “Screw it!” I walked back to the same spot where the man I admired once stood and readied for a gruesome battle. And a gruesome battle it was. After the first fall, I felt more relieved than in pain. The second was another failure but I was sure the next attempt would yield success. It did not. It hurt, really badly. My knees began to feel weak as doubt filled me. “No, I’ve gotten this far I’m not gonna let this go.” Six years of skateboarding had led me to this duel and I wasn’t prepared to lose. This time, instead of thinking too much about my execution, I let instinct decide my fate. It was the longest second of my life and then I hit the ground. As I rolled away, I heard the sounds of skateboards slamming on the concrete - a sign of respect.
For anybody I knew, ollieing the fourteen stair was just another new trick, another battle won. For me, it was much more. It was the result of all my hardships. It was a feat I will always be proud of because of the amount of time involved in reaching it. Skating might be painful, but it has taught me perseverance and tenacity. Six years of falling and getting back up took a toll on my body, but it also strengthened my