Overcoming Challenges

Success isn't something you're born into; it's something to strive to reach with every step you make. Bonnie St. John knows that fact all too well. When she trips over a step, she gets back up again. The stereotypes out there say she shouldn't be a success, but she became a successful Olympic skier anyway.

Bonnie St. John was raised by a single mother in San Diego. They were very poor, and what's worse is that Bonnie had to have one of her legs amputated at age five. Without any snow or money, her crazy dream was to be a skier. Her mother was always supportive of her and never tried to compensate for the disability.

Bonnie has always been motivated to succeed by her desire to see others motivated by her. She grew up hearing the same lies we all hear: blacks don't ski; blacks don't swim; blacks don't play golf. All black people can do is play basketball or football. These stereotypes are simply not true at all. Today, Bonnie joins over ten thousand African-American ski club members every other year for a convention.

A friend from school invited Bonnie to go skiing when they were both just children, and it changed her life forever. Bonnie St. John was the kid nobody liked. She was exempt from PE class, she rode a special bus, and she was teased at recess. Barbara Warmath was different, though. She didn't tease. She encouraged.

To go on the ski trip with her friend that Christmas, Bonnie had only a few short weeks to overcome several obstacles. Embarrassment wasn't an option for her. This was before the days of the internet, so Bonnie flipped through the Yellow Pages looking for inexpensive snow gear. Most of her gear ended up coming from the Salvation Army.

Skiing isn't easy for someone with two good legs, so it's no surprise that Bonnie had a horrible time getting started. Her prosthetic leg was a much bigger challenge than she could have imagined, and since she knew nothing about skiing when she acquired her gear, she was left cold and wet by her knit mittens. Bonnie wouldn't trade this experience for the world, though.

Bonnie St. John later found the Ski Club where she was able to find appropriate ski gear and begin training to ski. Eventually, she began racing with other amputees. The more she raced, the more she enjoyed it. The more she trained, the more she wanted to be on the U.S. Olympic Ski Team.

Anyone can have success in their life. Each of us has our own obstacles to overcome. Some are tougher than others, but all can be achieved with some creativity and determination. Never give up on your passions. Live your life to the fullest, and get up each time you fall.

Article Source: ArticlesMaker.com

About the Author: Do you possess the motivation to succeed? Bonnie St. John overcame immense problems to realize her passions. Go to Bonnie St. John to learn how you can learn from her experiences. 

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