Well, I figured it was finally time to return to the
blogging world. The months since the Olympics ended in February have been busy
but enjoyable. However, as I get closer to the day that I’ll be leaving for
Harvard for summer school, I approach the beginning of a new chapter of my
story. That is why I’ve decided to create a new blog title that stretches
beyond “aztosochi”.
So what have I been up to? Well, I’ve been delivering a lot
of speeches to various local groups. I’ve been primarily sharing my story and
spreading the message of dreaming big, working hard, staying in the moment,
never giving up, and remembering that success is in the journey. While giving
these talks, I’ve had the privilege of working with a ton of different people:
young children, elderly groups, Ivy League alumni, old friends, and many more.
The connections and friends I’ve made in the short time I’ve been home have me
so excited for the future and I’m just so grateful that I’ve had the
opportunities to meet so many wonderful people.
One speaking highlight was flying down to Corpus Christi to
speak at a high school to their female athletes. A few boys and some Special
Olympians ended up coming as well which was awesome. Anyway, the reason I went
down there was because the father of a boy I played hockey with in Arizona
almost ten years ago asked me if I would speak. His youngest daughter (who was
pretty young when I played with his son) is now a freshman at the high school.
They moved down to Texas a few years ago. I probably hadn’t seen them for over
5 years or so though. However, I was happy to say yes since they have always
been such wonderful people and have always been so good to me and my family. I
was a little nervous going down there and staying with them since I hadn’t really
talked to them in such a long time, but when I got there, they made me feel
like part of the family and I seriously could not be more thankful for the
opportunity to go down and speak in their small Texas town. I realized after my
time down there with the Killian family that there is something really special
about how small the AZ hockey community is. Everyone seems to get to know
everyone at one time or another, and along the way you meet some amazingly
wonderful and loyal friends. It really doesn’t matter what team you or your
kids played for growing up in AZ, the hockey community here at home truly is
unique.
Anyway, apart from giving talks, I’ve been doing a little
bit of travelling here and there. The national team, along with the entire
Olympic and Paralympic Delegations got to visit the White House and shake hands
with the President and the First Lady. That was quite the experience. It was
cool to be around so many inspiring athletes and it was really great to have
the whole team together again. The White House experience was amazing. We were
able to tour a lot of the historical rooms on the lower floors. There’s
something about looking at a display and seeing the silverware that Abraham
Lincoln used during his time in Office that just blows your mind. Eventually we
all lined up to shake their hands. It was kind of strange. You wait in line for
almost 45 minutes with anticipation for the moment building inside of you and
then you get up there, literally shake their hands and thank them, and then move
on all in less than 30 seconds. Regardless, it was an incredible experience
that I’ll never forget.
Shortly after that trip, I and half of my national team
teammates went on vacation to a private house in Mexico. It was so much fun and
so relaxing. We were total bums the entire time, but it was the exact type of
vacation that I needed. I read a ton, went into the water a bit, and in the
evenings we’d play a little volleyball. The food they made for us was so fresh
and delicious. Just writing about it all is making me want to go back!
Anyway, I just recently returned from a trip out to Boston.
I went to join the festivities that accompany “senior week”. Every year before
graduation, the senior class at Harvard gets to participate in events like
“Moonlight Cruise,” “Last Chance Dance,” “Senior Sioree,” and “Senior Talent
Show”. Well, since I would have been graduating with the class of 2014, I
decided to fly out and spend the week with my friends from my original class.
It was so much fun. Any time I return to Harvard anymore, it just feels like
home. I cherished every moment with my friends while I was there. These are the
kids who were there for me during my struggles freshman year. My friends for
the past 4 years of my life. I’m so so so happy I was able to spend the week
with them and I’m so excited to see what their futures’ hold.
So those have been the big adventures lately… Other than
that I’ve been working my tail off in the gym preparing for next season. I gave
my hips a nice long rest and stayed off the ice for a while, but I’m slowly
getting back into it which has been great. Oh and I almost forgot to mention…
My brother, Wesley, got into ASU! He proved us all wrong and for that, I’m
incredibly proud of him. So way to go Wes! Now I’m up in Northern AZ relaxing
with my grandparents at their campsite. I’m looking forward to watching the
Kings/Blackhawks game tonight. Playoff hockey is where you really get to see
how freakin good these guys are. I must admit though that I’m cheering for the
Rangers in the finals for two reasons. One, my power skating coach started
working for them this season so I’d love to see him win a Cup with them, and
two, Dom Moore is just amazing and he earned my respect last summer when I saw
him working his butt off at the Harvard rink doing drills and preparing for
what has turned out to be an incredible season for him.
I head back to Boston in just two short weeks and I cannot
wait to be a student again and I am so excited to train with my Harvard
teammates this summer. This next year is going to be an absolute blast and I’m
sure it will be another one of the most unforgettable years of my life thus
far. I hope everyone else is doing well! And to my friends and family in AZ…
Try to stay cool! It’s supposed to be 110 degrees tomorrow!
