“Every year, I think of Worlds as the big meet, but now, it’s the Olympics. I’m blessed to even have the opportunity to think about it and work for it.”

I’m thrilled that I was able to share my first Olympic Games experience with my U.S. teammates.

I am like any typical teenager.

We go to church on Sunday and then have family dinner. My mom usually cooks, and most of the time, it’s protein and something else. She will ask us kids what we want!

When I was younger, I thought every kid was adopted because that’s all I’ve known. I have everything I need, so I never felt the need to have answers for what happened.

Mentally, I have to get my body and mind in the right place before I start the routine, but once into the zone, it’s like I turn on a switch. I envision myself doing the same thing for the Olympic Games.

I have dual citizenship.

I would be like, ‘Oh, my gosh, I wish I could go to prom.’ But then I think, ‘You know what? A lot of people can’t say they’ve ever done what I do – they’ll never have this opportunity.’

So far, my goals stops at making an Olympic team, and then if that happens, then I’ll jot down more goals.

Most people would focus on concentrating more, and I can’t do that. It almost makes me overthink a lot of my things. I have to focus on not thinking.

You can have fun and do well. Just let loose a bit.

You can still be very good at what you do and have fun.

We strive for greatness.

As a kid growing up, I was never like, ‘I want to go to the Olympics,’ so having to pass on 2012 because I was too young didn’t bother me at all.

I always say my biggest competitor is myself because, whenever I step out there on the mat, I’m competing against myself to prove that I can do this and that I am very well trained, prepared for it.

In the morning, I usually get up between 7:40 A.M. and 7:45 A.M., and then I’ll brush my teeth, do my hair, and just throw on my leotard and my clothes and go to the kitchen.

My mom, Nellie, got me a rosary at church. I don’t use it to pray before a competition. I’ll just pray normally to myself, but I have it there in case.

It is not your job to carry every burden to heal every heart-your love is a divine blessing.

God heals what you hide he keeps blessing your life.

In this world of inconsistency, He is a constant blessing.

And sometimes we itself never let blessings fall on our head.

Why do I see in a world gone blind? I always longed to find the answers, took chances. Asked for the veil to thin. Fault? Mine. Left questioning; my eyes, blessings or curses?

I may not see or feel it instantly, but I know it’s there and with time that blessing will uncover itself.

You will never love another the same way, again. And I’m still trying to figure out if that’s a blessing or a tragedy.

My birth was a blessing. Sent to live and die on Earth; it’s a blessing. We each have a star; all you have to do is find it. Once you do, everyone sees it, you won’t be blinded.