Iara Melgarejo: The Cycle Effect Shaped Me to Who I am Today
I'm going to be completely honest. When I first started The Cycle Effect I wasn't super into it. I know it's not a super good way to start this, but I'll get there. I was so terrified and I thought it was too hard for me and I wasn't good enough for it. Any of it. Another sport I tried and won't keep doing, I thought, but my parents made me stay.
I was so mad at them, but I stayed and realized it was the best decision I've taken to shape me to be who I am.
I didn't know it then but my self-esteem was so incredibly low. No wonder I thought I was horrible and it was too hard and I would never be a good biker–now I realize that was all wrong.
In my last year as a high schooler, I've realized a lot of things: I've grown so much and still need to grow but The Cycle Effect has been one of the greatest parts of my life. It has shot up my self-esteem (hopefully not too much) and it has made me realize I am capable of anything. I still have that voice in my head telling me I am not good enough and I'll never get better and others are improving faster than I am so why should I try. The Cycle Effect has helped me silence that voice and understand that with work, commitment, and perseverance I can really amount to anything.
“ The Cycle Effect has been one of the greatest parts of my life.”
Not only has The Cycle Effect helped me grow my love for myself but it has allowed me to create friendships with other bikers and even the coaches. Having such a close community in a sport has really changed how I view the actual sport. I used to tell myself I'm not really athletic and I'll probably stop fitness when I'm older because I'm never good enough for any team. But now because of how caring and amazing my coaches and the whole Cycle Effect community has been, I realize that’s not true at all.
So thank you to all the coaches for making such an impact on my life and especially thank you to Brett and Tam.
As I graduate from The Cycle Effect, what are the last words I want to give to others? There are so so many things I want to say to the girls younger than me and even to my younger self but what I chose to say is:
You are enough.
You are good enough to be on a bike team. You are good enough to be loved by others. You are good enough to get into a good college or get the job you want. And most importantly you are good enough to love yourself.
Written by Iara Melgarejo, TCE participant for 6 years.