COS: Lorena Maldonado
October 14, 2019
Lorena Maldonado is just one of the many juniors trying to stay on top of their school work and social life. After eating, breathing, and living gymnastics for eleven years, Maldonado called it quits last year knowing Junior year would be one of the most intense years she would need to focus on.
In her freshman year, Lorena recalls continuously falling asleep past midnight because gymnastics would take up most of her life. The immense passion she had for sport is what kept her motivated, but knowing about all of the activities and classes she would be taking she decided to end the routine in her tenth-grade year. When asked what her daily routine is now without gymnastics in her life, she mentioned she gets home, naps for a while depending on the amount of homework she has, goes to Crossfit, eats, showers, and begins to do her homework.
When she’s not working out or doing homework, Lorena is a member of NHS, NEHS, and SNHS. She also volunteers at a medical clinic during the week, but her most recent activity has been being a part of the junior Powderpuff team. Although many believed the seniors would take the win, surprisingly juniors showed their hard work and defeated the class of 2020. For Lorena, this victory made her feel superior knowing Juniors really can triumph when others did not believe in them.
For her future, Lorena hopes to attend Duke University or the University of Miami to become an orthopedic surgeon or a forensic pathologist. With Aly Raisman being the athlete she looks up to, Maldonado advises, “If you’re questioning whether or not you want to pursue a career in gymnastics, it might not be something you are determined to do. It takes a lot of hard work and persistence, but with those qualities, anyone can do what they set their mind to. Work hard and prioritize your goals.”