SKATE TO INTEGRATE
By Jasper
One thing I have noticed from visiting many skateparks is how skateboarding does not discriminate. No matter your skin color, how much money you have, your age, or what you believe, skateboarding brings people together who love and enjoy the sport. Today at the skatepark, I was reminded of why I love the sport. Even though I was coming to the Fourth Ward skatepark for the first time, everybody was very respectful of my space and skating.
Skating creates a bond, even in the absence of a one-on-one, close-up conversation. It makes you feel welcomed and confident to skate with and meet new people. When I first showed up, I studied the shape of the park; since I have never skated there, I decided to start small and then go big. After doing a couple of lines, I noticed a guy at the park who had the happiest attitude and the biggest smile. He went out of his way to make sure that everybody got a chance to skate, and that everybody had fun. He would even skate to the side of the park so people could have more room to skate. This made me feel more comfortable skating a park that I have never skated before.
Skating gives me an instant community, no matter where I am or who I meet. It is a way for me to present and express myself to others, even if the other people are bigger or better at skating. I have met people from around the country who all have a passion for skating and share their stories from the sport. Learning about their stories brings us closer together and creates a community in its own way. It's a hard sport, which is why, when you're at the skatepark, you have respect for other skaters. The respect is earned based on skill and determination, not about what you look like or your background. Even if you are not a good skater, what matters most is that you give it your all and have a positive attitude fixed on progress. Sometimes you can end up trying a trick for an entire day and still not land it, but the determination is what brings you back to the park every day. I appreciate that my school supports my interest in skating and allowed me to skate on the trip.
Skating creates a bond, even in the absence of a one-on-one, close-up conversation. It makes you feel welcomed and confident to skate with and meet new people. When I first showed up, I studied the shape of the park; since I have never skated there, I decided to start small and then go big. After doing a couple of lines, I noticed a guy at the park who had the happiest attitude and the biggest smile. He went out of his way to make sure that everybody got a chance to skate, and that everybody had fun. He would even skate to the side of the park so people could have more room to skate. This made me feel more comfortable skating a park that I have never skated before.
Skating gives me an instant community, no matter where I am or who I meet. It is a way for me to present and express myself to others, even if the other people are bigger or better at skating. I have met people from around the country who all have a passion for skating and share their stories from the sport. Learning about their stories brings us closer together and creates a community in its own way. It's a hard sport, which is why, when you're at the skatepark, you have respect for other skaters. The respect is earned based on skill and determination, not about what you look like or your background. Even if you are not a good skater, what matters most is that you give it your all and have a positive attitude fixed on progress. Sometimes you can end up trying a trick for an entire day and still not land it, but the determination is what brings you back to the park every day. I appreciate that my school supports my interest in skating and allowed me to skate on the trip.