Figure Your Dreams

How many times have you been told to do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life?

Chances are that you’ve heard some mixed opinions at some point. Typically, when you’re young, they teach you that the sky’s the limit. Then, you’re sitting across from a career advisor who asks you what you’re good at and if what you want to do will fulfill the lifestyle you want to lead. What once was “does that make you happy?” slowly turns into “does that make you money?” As mental health clinician Kirby Michaelides stated, “today, I see a generation that often hesitates to dream […] not because they don’t want to, but because they’ve been conditioned to believe that grand aspirations are impractical, that success is out of reach, or that life is about survival rather than exploration.” Some of the most common reasons for people not following their dreams are fear of failure, pressure to follow societal expectations and lack of confidence in their abilities. Alysa Liu is someone who has almost certainly struggled with these difficulties in her life, yet she has been a consistent figure on our screens for this year’s Winter Olympic Games. 

Every year, billions of people across the world join in the camaraderie of the Olympics. The Winter Olympics, in particular, are known for beautiful figure skaters making their mark with spins that carry them through the air. Alysa Liu was one of these stunning performers in the recent 2026 Winter Olympic Games through her endless routines, press tours, and finally, to the award ceremonies in which she stood out with her striped hair and piercings. 

I don’t often watch the Olympics, so Alysa first graced my screen in a segment of 60 Minutes airing a few weeks prior to the start of the games airing in Italy. I don’t know what made me keep watching her segment, maybe it was her genuine smile, or her inspiring story to success, but above all, I believe it was her passion. We live in a time where passion in your profession is a rarity, and for the world to see it front and center, it is an inspiration and a gift to us all. It brings together the purpose of these competitive games—to watch athletes do what they love and fight with their grit to represent our country. 

Alysa spoke in her 60 Minutes segment about her retirement from the sport two years prior to this season. Despite being the youngest winning U.S. woman champion at just 13 years old, after struggling to balance her personal life and losing her spark to competition, she chose to leave the ice. 

Many high-performing athletes struggle with this immense pressure placed on their shoulders. Tonya Harding, an Olympic skater, was banned by the U.S. Figure Skating Association, after they found out she knew that her ex-husband and bodyguard paid to attack Nancy Kerrigan in the 1994 U.S. Figure Skating Championship. Harding admitted in trial the stress to succeed at such a high level led to her loss of self, and she became a victim to the competition culture.

Alysa Liu did not let the competition get to her in this violent way, and after the time away, she decided to come back, and like everything she does, she decided to come back stronger than ever. An article in People Magazine states, “Liu says living her life and “doing a ton of other things,” including “trying out every hobby in existence” made her realize that her true calling was figure skating all along.” Liu did have stipulations for coming back, one being she wanted her father to be less controlling over her career, and she wanted to pick her own coaches. She also requested to implement her own choreography and costuming as desired. All of the following reasons are what led her to reignite her passion for the sport. 

Before the Olympics aired, as I watched her training in video clips, I had a gut feeling that although her story was inspiring, there was no way she was going to take home medals. How could someone who hasn’t laced up their skates in years return and dominate everyone? Boy was I wrong! That’s exactly what she did. Alysa won two gold medals at the 2026 Winter Olympics. One for the women’s singles, and the second for the U.S. team figure skating title. I believe it all comes down to her passion for the sport. Liu proves that sometimes to reach your highest potential, you need to feel like you want and deserve to reach that level. 

There are many people every year going to college, uncertain if they’ll like their future career, or worse, knowing that they won’t, but accepting that predicament, so they can make money and be comfortable in life. In a study conducted by BestColleges, 53% of students said their top reason for doubting their future profession was based on the money they’d make. The average person works about 90,000 hours in their lifetime. As you go through the motions day by day, you’ll find those hours are going far slower when you don’t like your job. 

Liu was a fan favorite from the 2026 Winter Olympic Games, and for good reason. No matter how tough her journey got, she waited to compete till she wanted to fight for it. And that’s a gift, and one we should not be discouraging from future generations. Follow what you love and you can find a way to make it work. If you’re finding yourself compromising, ask yourself why. It is unfortunately a hot take in our world now, but it certainly is a bet you’re making with yourself, and one you will not regret. 

Ellie Malachowski is a senior majoring in English with a minor in philosophy and law. To relax and unwind, she loves to read, watch “The Office” and be with friends.