Zoe Gordon
Discovering Confidence
MJCCA gymnastics teaches life lessons and shapes strong minds and bodies
What began as a casual early childhood activity for Zoe Gordon has evolved over the years into a life- changing pursuit. Now, at 10 years old, she has found
an all-encompassing passion formed from sweat equity, sacrifice, and success.
Zoe first got a taste of the sport in a preschool gymnastics class at the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta. Soon that turned into weekly sessions with the MJCCA’s Perimeter Gymnastics “Hot Shots” program. Now, a few years later, Zoe trains on the Perimeter Gymnastics Compulsory team as a USA Gymnastics Level 4 athlete, which requires 9.5 hours of gym time each week. Zoe’s mom, Shelley, says the gymnastics program nurtures a sense of accomplishment and self-assurance and has been incredibly impactful for her daughter, crediting Zoe’s “dream team of wonderful, tough, firm, and loving coaches” at Perimeter Gymnastics. “They’ve helped her blossom into the strong, confident young woman she is today.”
The MJCCA has given her the literal and figurative springboard for becoming anything she wants to be.Shelley Gordon
Among the many skills Zoe has gleaned from gymnastics, Shelley touts the life lessons as the most impressive. “The MJCCA program is designed to not only build strong and able bodies, but to build character, confidence, and inner strength. Zoe has learned the importance of hard work and dedication. Even if she’s tired from a long day at school, she knows she must show up at the gym because she has made a commitment to herself, her coaches, and her team. Perimeter Gymnastics is about more than just exercise; it has helped hone her inner grit and mental fortitude.”
It has been profound for Zoe to experience the true meaning of success, and for her parents to witness that realization. “Success is not the elusive 10 score,” Shelley reveals. “Success is falling off a balance beam during a meet and getting right back on without skipping a beat. Success is Zoe completing a difficult uneven bars routine and doing her personal best, regardless of the score. Success is looking back and realizing how many skills Zoe has mastered, friends she has made, and how much confidence she has gained.”
“The Perimeter Gymnastics community at the MJCCA has been our second family,” Shelley explains. “It has given Zoe an opportunity to shine, giving her the literal and figurative springboard for becoming anything she wants to be.”
Impact
95% of MJCCA gymnastics participants reported that their coach was a positive role model.