Larger than life . . . that's what comes to mind when I think of Marilyn. And why? She certainly doesn't push her weight around. She's never in your face with her opinions. And she doesn't brag about her accomplishments. And yet, put together, perhaps this is precisely why she has this big presence . . . because she could do all the above . . . but she doesn't.

Independent and strong minded, she knows what she wants . . . and goes and gets it in her quiet and steady way.

Let me mention that Marilyn is my daughter.

As a two year old, her joy was bright as I'd spin her quickly around in my arms. The thrill of spinning then made way for climbing. After the age of three, she climbed the 10 foot columns in our open floor living room, traversed the first floor window frames, or perched within the comfortable trees of our yard. And yet, with all this strength and adventurousness, no sport could captivate her interest for long . . . not dance, nor gymnastics, nor swimming, nor soccer. Sure they were fun, but they didn't hold her.

Once I started coaching kids and then teens, she became one of my most loyal students . . . rarely ever missing a class. As a result, she has become really tough. Whether it's her solid pushup, strict and kipping pull-up, dumbbell snatch, or her clean and jerk, it is through her consistent effort that she's achieved the success she has reached in class.

Here's my Q & A with Marilyn (age 13, 8th grade):

Q: What's your favorite subject? What do you like about it?
A: My favorite subject is Language Arts because I like to read.

Q: What’s your least favorite subject? What don’t you like about it?
A: My least favorite subject is Math because sometimes some concepts are hard to grasp.

Q: If you gained superhero powers, what would they be…and how could you use them to make your life, those around you, or the world better?
A: I'd have the power of shape shifting because I could become a cute animal and make someone's day better.

Q: If you had a money tree and enough rain and sun to keep it healthy, how would you spend it?
A: I would donate a lot of it to charity, but I'd also spend it on things like clothes for myself.

Q: Provided all opportunities possible, what’s your ideal adult career?
A: Probably a graphic designer or interior designer.

Q: Since beginning our kids fitness classes, what do you feel best about?
A: I feel great about the fact that I can kip.

Q: What keeps you wanting to come to class again and again?
A: Knowing that I will keep getting stronger if I go to every class.

Q: What’s your current skill goal that you want to achieve?
A: I want to be able to do a legless rope climb.

Q: If a friend was considering taking Kids in Motion, Kids Unplugged or Teens on the Move, why would you recommend they join?
A: It's a good environment and going to class is actually very rewarding.

Thank you Marilyn, for your dedication and hard work. You are an asset to our Teens class and a model for those students who want to achieve even more than they already have.

- Coach Rebecca