Commentary by Jim Serger
The 8-year-old says to the mom, “I want to be in the Olympics.” Mom replies, “You can do anything you want, if you put your mind to it.”
To an 11-year-old, as it is to an 18-year-old, the Olympics have a dream-type feeling to it. We envision ourselves standing on the platform, gold medal draped around our neck and the National Anthem playing, as our lips raddle off the words in sync. We imagine tears running down our face, a smile from ear to ear. We feel the pride and joy of representing the United States of America—the power of being on center stage and the world watching us at our very best.
It’s that time once more. Every four years the Winter Olympics is in full throttle. We as adults remember growing up and being glued to the television watching figure skating or the miracle on ice. As kids we watched with sheer dreams of being an Olympic athlete. We thought, “Why not us?” We thought, “I can do that.”
To the 15-year-old, the student athlete in high school—he or she believes in having a shot at living out their Olympic dreams. Dreams do come true. Sacrifice and devotion is what it takes. All over the nation children and teenagers, as well as adults will say, “I want to be in the Olympics,” or “I could have been an Olympic athlete.”
To the 13-year-old, the new teenager getting older and understanding what it means to represent the United States of America. It’s bigger than their school, region or even state. The Wheaties box will be out soon. Maybe a luge athlete, a curling athlete or even a cross country skier will be on the cover. The pride of a country, the stories behind the stories of how the athletes triumphed, are heartfelt.
Dreams do come true, as moms have been telling their kids for centuries. Dreams are still booming and prospering across this great country. The winter Olympics demonstrate that all young athletes still have that burning desire to want that gold medal decorated around their neck. It’s a dream we all aspire to. If you can dream it, you can do it. So, why not us? Why not you? Why not your children?
Jim Serger is a Carmel resident and author.
