Senior Kate Wilson aspires to perform professionally with Disney on Ice, pursuing ice skating beyond high school. Having skated since age five, she devotes herself to constant auditions to create opportunities in a career she loves.
Wilson has been auditioning and seeking out companies with ice skating programs, ranging from cruise ships to small theaters in Europe. She explained, “I tried out for a couple of companies. There [are many opportunities, such as big companies], there is Royal Caribbean, and ice dance shows that you can do.” She continues to have an unwavering commitment and time towards finding the ideal path for her passion.
Balancing constant auditioning with no guaranteed career path, Wilson faces both excitement and uncertainty about her future. She shared, “It’s obviously nerve-wracking, but you can do it. You can go and try out whenever. I feel good about it because no matter what, I can always go back and try again next year.” Despite the unpredictability of ice skating, she is reassured by the many opportunities available, which give her time to find the right path forward.
Typical situations in sports involve failure and learning how to bounce back, something Wilson has experienced many times. Through these challenges, she has grown stronger and is ready to pursue greater opportunities. She said, “It’s hard when you’re doing any sport because you fail a lot. I feel like it’s [ice skating] built up my momentum to keep going because it is hard and very competitive. It’s really brought me into who I am today.” No matter how many times Wilson has fallen, she continues to get back up, and that perseverance has shaped where she is today.
Her experiences with both failure and growth have also made her realize the amount of time and money required for the sport, further influencing her decision to pursue ice skating professionally. She claimed, “I think that you put so much time into it and so much money. If you’re not planning to be a competitive skater, then [it makes you realize] it’s a lot more fun than competing. Anybody who has ever done it [pursue ice skating professionally] will tell you that it’s the best thing that they’ve ever done.” Through this commitment, Wilson discovered her true passion for the sport, reinforcing her decision to pursue it professionally while maintaining a balanced perspective on competition.
Wilson has strong support in her ice skating journey from both her family and her coach. She trains at Coyotes Community Ice Center, where her coach has guided her since she was five years old. Her coach has experience working for Disney on Ice, as she is a significant influence on Wilson’s path in the sport. In addition, her family fully supports her decision to pursue ice skating instead of attending college. She further elaborated, “I think that they’re [my family] really supportive about it because they know that I love it.”
Wilson has high hopes for her ice skating career and dreams of performing with Disney on Ice. She has been on the podium since she was 14 years old. This leads her to be confident in her decision, especially with the support of those who have encouraged her along the way.
