Laura Anzalone is a 20-year-old college student whose 10-year loving relationship with ice-skating is an example of passion in its truest form. It only took Laura one experience with the ice for her to be hooked. Now, like most things, getting deeply involved in a particular sport requires time and sacrifice; however, when your sport of choice requires an ice rink, things can get a little more complicated.

In high school Laura would wake up at 4 am to get to the rink by 6 every morning to skate for at least an hour before heading to school. After school she would generally stay after for play practice or band and by the time she got home, ate dinner, and finished homework, she sometimes didn’t get to sleep until 2am. But the thought of not skating was far worse than sleep deprivation. When you talk to Laura about skating, it’s not about competition, but it’s purely a personal attraction that she pursued without anyone pushing her one way or another.

For Laura, skating is so much more than an extra-curricular activity: it’s her love, challenge, achievement, motivation, and fun. Which makes all of her ailments and injuries totally worth it. The only injuries that she cannot deal with are ones that keep her off of the ice. Even now, as a college student, Laura made sure to attend a university where she skates as a member of a club team and practices at least three times a week while pursing a double major in international relations and print journalism and a minor in Spanish. Laura’s passion for skating really allows you to see all the positives in doing a sport that you love just for your own personal enjoyment and happiness...to me, that’s what sports are for.

-Ashley Johncola