What I Wish You Knew | ꪜ

Epilogue

Dear readers,

Epilogue. I wish you knew how thankful I am that you were with me on this journey!

One year later
Hayley's POV

Graduation day.

A year ago I thought I'd have no clear direction after I left high school. However, as I'm sitting here dressed down in my graduation gown awaiting my name to be called; everything was so clear before me. I thought I'd have to take a gap year or two before starting college because I was unsure of what I wanted to become.

But after reading my father's letter I remembered how passionate I was about Gymnastics. It was once my entire world to the point where I thought a fight that surrounded the topic of me possibly having to give up on that dream was what drove my father to his untimely death.

And then in the end I still gave up on it.

His letter impacted me more than I expected. Drayton reached out to my old Gymnastics club and the coach allowed me back in. I had to start from the basics seeing as I hadn't practiced in years apart from cheerleading which is vastly different. However, not long after, I was competing in local competitions that then went on to state competitions and finally national competitions.

My coach wanted to push me to my limits so she placed me as one of the competitors for Nationals. She had so much faith that I'd be one of the top three finishers despite my absence for six whole years. There had been girls working their asses off for way longer and I felt like I didn't deserve it compared to them.

But surprisingly everyone was on my side. They wanted me to perform at Nationals. Maybe it really was to test my limits or to overcome my fears or realize that I have the capability of possibly making it to the Olympics in the future. Whatever the motive. . .it paid off.

I was indeed one of the top three finishers.

Drayton, Landon, Jenna and Parker were all sitting in that crowd cheering me on. And I just imagined my father sitting amongst them with a sign that read that's my daughter! scribbled in bright pink neon markers as he cheered out loud for me. That's all I could see. And as I climbed onto that stage, I let my body take control.

And I remembered.

Hayley Peterson Jeong never gives up.

Not long after I was receiving emails from colleges seeking to recruit me. They found themselves all the way in Virginia at my gymnastics club and high school. I got offers from UCLA, University Of Florida, Alabama, Oklahoma–they were all knocking at my door eagerly with full-ride scholarships.

Each of these schools has outstanding Gymnastics teams. Choosing one over the other wouldn't change the outcome of my future because in the end Gymnastics mostly comes down to the individual and again, all these teams are amazing.

So I chose the one closest to home because I couldn't imagine being more than 24 hours away from my family back here (mostly Drayton) so I chose The University of Alabama. Although it still technically is pretty far, it's the closest compared to my other options. I didn't want to be all on the other side of the country.

It's a risk I may be willing to take but I won't because I don't want to. I'm still happy with my choice because now, I have something else to look forward to. I hope you're proud of me dad.