One surprising thing I didn’t think I would do in La Barra, or frankly, ever, is skateboard.
Before we arrived in La Barra, my parents told me there was a skatepark close to our rental house. They asked if I would be interested in skateboarding. I quickly said no. I snowboard, but the idea of a board sport where you land on cold hard concrete instead of snow just did not interest me. Even though my parents kept bringing it up and encouraging me to try it I kept ignoring them.
Fast forward to life in La Barra: after school one day, my friend River asked me if I wanted to go to the skatepark. I didn’t have anything to do, so I said “sure”. When we arrived at the skatepark, I was unimpressed. I saw people falling and skinning their knees and bikers narrowly dodging each other on the ramps, but River convinced me to try her skateboard anyhow.
I went down the small hill next to the trick park, clutching River’s hand like it was a stress squishy. I started off wobbly but then I steadied myself out. I noticed how fun it was to glide down the hill and the feeling of success I got from doing it. I decided that I was going to go down the hill all by myself, but when I tried, I fell. I kept working at it though and I got it after a few tries. When I finally went down that hill by myself I found a sense of success that comes from getting the hang of new things, and that is why I decided, right then and there, to keep skateboarding.
Now I have my own skateboard and I go to the skatepark multiple times a week. I enjoy going down the ramps and having a sense of control over my board. I love learning and mastering a new trick, despite falling, despite getting hurt, and despite skinning my knees. Doing it with my friends makes it even more entertaining. I can now skateboard down ramps and hills and am learning to roll-in.
Try new things, you never know when you will surprise yourself.