“One sentence: hard worker. Somebody with raw, natural talent that excels very quickly in the sport of gymnastics, which is unheard of,” says Coach Cordts. Shawn Carmack, a senior at West Leyden, is excited to continue his short but very meaningful gymnastics journey and, with his natural talent, attempt to immortalize his name on the record board. Shawn is an example of someone with pure drive, motivation, and talent. For him, this started at a young age. “Ever since I was a kid, I would always stack up furniture and just jump off of stuff,” explains Shawn, smiling as he reminisces on his childhood. He also credits his father, also a gymnast, for recommending the sport and inspiring him. Shawn says, “I would teach myself a flip on a trampoline, and my dad would give me pointers. That really ignited the fire in me to keep learning and pushing myself.” But, of course, sports are often not all fun and games. It’s hard work that requires motivation, drive, and courage. “I was competing in Varsity but had a really bad routine. I was really insecure, especially during warm-ups everybody seemed better than me. But when I got out there and performed, I wasn’t so scared; it just felt good.” Beyond the physical challenges, the sport also gave him an opportunity to grow in ways he didn’t expect. “Gymnastics gave me so much more confidence than I ever thought I would have. It really brought me out of that scared, insecure mindset and made me a confident person.” The sport also gave him purpose, a sense of identity, and ownership over his progress. “It gave me an outlet, something to focus on. This was the first time I had something that was truly mine, something I achieved through hard work. It definitely taught me to be a stronger person overall.” After reflecting on how the sport has affected him so far, Shawn addresses the future. “My goal this year is to make state, specifically for floor, and my main overarching goal is to get on the record board to immortalize my name.” Shawn gives one last word for anyone reading who feels unsure or scared: “Weigh the pros and cons. I guarantee the pros will outweigh the cons. Doing hard things will make you a better, more confident person. So just do it.” But for now, you can catch Shawn training in the gymnastics room, perfecting the routines that shaped his high school career.