--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My earliest memory was watching…" description: "\"My earliest memory was watching gymnastics on live TV and wanting to do what the 'big girls' did.\" — Laurie Hernandez" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a49/laurie-hernandez-6355_big_my-earliest-memory-was-watching-gymnasti_8984.jpg" --- # My earliest memory was watching gymnastics on live TV and… ![“My earliest memory was watching gymnastics on live TV and wanting to do what the 'big girls' did.” quote by Laurie Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a49/laurie-hernandez-6355_big_my-earliest-memory-was-watching-gymnasti_8984.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a49/laurie-hernandez-6355_big_my-earliest-memory-was-watching-gymnasti_8984.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a49/laurie-hernandez-6355_big_my-earliest-memory-was-watching-gymnasti_8984.jpg) > “My earliest memory was watching gymnastics on live TV and wanting to do what the 'big girls' did.” [Laurie Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-hernandez/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A childhood fascination with elite gymnastics sparked a desire to emulate role models and pursue high-level athletic achievement. **In simple terms:** Inspiration from media to pursue sport Key Takeaway Early exposure shapes ambition Themes aspiration role models sports gender media influence Mood determined hopeful motivated Type personal anecdote motivational When to use this quote - watching televised gymnastics - seeing female athletes excel - deciding to train - joining a gymnastics club - competing in local meets Key Concepts motivation identity formation goal setting Practical Applications - coaching youth athletes - designing outreach programs for girls in sports Questions to Reflect On - What role models can you identify that guided your path? - How does early media exposure influence career choices? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Big girls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-girls/) [Gymnastics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gymnastics/) [Memory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memory/) ## Related quotes > [I love watching gymnastics, swimming, and track and field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-hamm/i-love-watching-gymnastics-swimming-and-track-and-field/) [Mia Hamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-hamm/) > [I was very short when I was little, so I probably had - and there may be a residue of it now - that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-snipes/i-was-very-short-when-i-was-little-so-i-probably-had-and-there-may-be/) [Wesley Snipes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-snipes/) > [I'm a big fan of Justin Timberlake and Bruno Mars - that's my next level. You've got to dream. People have always tried to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-murs/i-m-a-big-fan-of-justin-timberlake-and-bruno-mars-that-s-my-next/) [Olly Murs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-murs/) > [Arsene Wenger wanting me was a big factor. When I first saw him, I was a bit scared, like he was a person from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrey-arshavin/arsene-wenger-wanting-me-was-a-big-factor-when-i-first-saw-him-i-was/) [Andrey Arshavin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrey-arshavin/) > [I love my height because when I'm doing gymnastics, it really benefits the sport - and also, I think being short is kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-hernandez/i-love-my-height-because-when-i-m-doing-gymnastics-it-really-benefits/) [Laurie Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-hernandez/) > [Being able to do something that I love and be at such a high level of gymnastics is just amazing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-hernandez/being-able-to-do-something-that-i-love-and-be-at-such-a-high-level-of/) [Laurie Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-hernandez/) > [My whole life revolved around gymnastics because I loved it so much. I home-schooled because of it; I changed my eating habits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-hernandez/my-whole-life-revolved-around-gymnastics-because-i-loved-it-so-much-i/) [Laurie Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-hernandez/) > [Having the opportunity to go to the U.S. Olympics was great because I was the first Latina in over 30 years to compete in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-hernandez/having-the-opportunity-to-go-to-the-u-s-olympics-was-great-because-i/) [Laurie Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-hernandez/) > [I knew when I started gymnastics, I wanted to have a lot of fun and eventually go to the Olympics. On the moments where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-hernandez/i-knew-when-i-started-gymnastics-i-wanted-to-have-a-lot-of-fun-and/) [Laurie Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-hernandez/) > [The best part is when parents come up to me with their kids, and they say, 'My daughter started gymnastics because of you.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-hernandez/the-best-part-is-when-parents-come-up-to-me-with-their-kids-and-they/) [Laurie Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-hernandez/) > [I started a gymnastics class at five years old, but it became serious at seven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-hernandez/i-started-a-gymnastics-class-at-five-years-old-but-it-became-serious/) [Laurie Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-hernandez/) > [Big girls dont cry. Look around. You still have everybody. Could gives you 10 times lots of love. Smile. Stand up. Life must go on](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/big-girls-dont-cry-look-around-you-still-have-everybody-could-gives/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“When I think about little girls in the moment of turning into big girls (it is no slow timid development but something strangely sudden),…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/when-i-think-about-little-girls-in-the-moment-of-turning-into-big/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [Another morning yet another wasted soul Its tired 4am floating home out of control, Blaring at the February sky, I wonder why Every1 is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/another-morning-yet-another-wasted-soul-its-tired-4am-floating-home/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Big girls, thin girls,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-taylor/big-girls-thin-girls/) [Sonia Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-taylor/) ## More by Laurie Hernandez > [The first meal that I learned to make was scrambled eggs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-hernandez/the-first-meal-that-i-learned-to-make-was-scrambled-eggs/) [Laurie Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-hernandez/) > [My mother was in the Army Reserve for six years. She taught me the importance of following rules, finishing what I start, never giving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-hernandez/my-mother-was-in-the-army-reserve-for-six-years-she-taught-me-the/) [Laurie Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-hernandez/) > [I knew when I started gymnastics, I wanted to have a lot of fun and eventually go to the Olympics. On the moments where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-hernandez/i-knew-when-i-started-gymnastics-i-wanted-to-have-a-lot-of-fun-and/) [Laurie Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-hernandez/) > [Since kindergarten, I was the shortest kid in class. They always put me toward the front in school pictures, because you couldn't see me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-hernandez/since-kindergarten-i-was-the-shortest-kid-in-class-they-always-put-me/) [Laurie Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-hernandez/) > [I never look at scores or anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-hernandez/i-never-look-at-scores-or-anything/) [Laurie Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-hernandez/) > [Don't let people tell you that you can't do something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-hernandez/don-t-let-people-tell-you-that-you-can-t-do-something/) [Laurie Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-hernandez/) > [Growing up, there wasn't an exact Hispanic role model that I had. I didn't realize how big a difference I was making, going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-hernandez/growing-up-there-wasn-t-an-exact-hispanic-role-model-that-i-had-i/) [Laurie Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-hernandez/) > [When I was a little kid, I don't remember looking up and seeing so many Hispanic athletes out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-hernandez/when-i-was-a-little-kid-i-don-t-remember-looking-up-and-seeing-so/) [Laurie Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-hernandez/) > [I think people are people. If you want something, go get it. I don't think it matters what race you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-hernandez/i-think-people-are-people-if-you-want-something-go-get-it-i-don-t/) [Laurie Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-hernandez/) > [When I'm not training, I'm typically doing anything self-care, so, like, bath bombs and face masks, or, like, having a movie night with my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-hernandez/when-i-m-not-training-i-m-typically-doing-anything-self-care-so-like/) [Laurie Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-hernandez/) > [Every year, my mom makes sure I have my checkups and everything, which is probably a really good idea. She's great with all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-hernandez/every-year-my-mom-makes-sure-i-have-my-checkups-and-everything-which/) [Laurie Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-hernandez/) > [When you have family with you, it gives you extra energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-hernandez/when-you-have-family-with-you-it-gives-you-extra-energy/) [Laurie Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-hernandez/) > [I love listening to music in general before I compete. It's something that calms me down, and meditating and breathing before I get up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-hernandez/i-love-listening-to-music-in-general-before-i-compete-it-s-something/) [Laurie Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-hernandez/) > [My family has always been very close. Ever since I was a kid, everybody was always together, including my grandma. In the mornings, my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-hernandez/my-family-has-always-been-very-close-ever-since-i-was-a-kid-everybody/) [Laurie Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-hernandez/) > [Meeting kids who feel inspired by my story, it means so much to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-hernandez/meeting-kids-who-feel-inspired-by-my-story-it-means-so-much-to-me/) [Laurie Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-hernandez/) [Explore all 99 Laurie Hernandez quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-hernandez/) ## More Big quotes > [I'm a true believer in prayer, a big believer in prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-jackson/i-m-a-true-believer-in-prayer-a-big-believer-in-prayer/) [Janet Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-jackson/) > [Many early-stage entrepreneurs make one simple mistake: Describing this 'big picture' in vague concepts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-nagaraj/many-early-stage-entrepreneurs-make-one-simple-mistake-describing/) [Sunil Nagaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-nagaraj/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [My mom had very low expectations for me, and she really had a point. I was a big problem at seventeen. If I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/my-mom-had-very-low-expectations-for-me-and-she-really-had-a-point-i/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [I have always been a big meta guy because I think the way journalism is practiced in Washington, and the way everyone sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/i-have-always-been-a-big-meta-guy-because-i-think-the-way-journalism/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [It's going to be used in the last days to get people to come against Christ, and that's the issue: they come against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-lahaye/it-s-going-to-be-used-in-the-last-days-to-get-people-to-come-against/) [Tim LaHaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-lahaye/) > [My parents are divorced, and seeing that was really painful for me. Really painful for me. But that's also a big part of why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banks/my-parents-are-divorced-and-seeing-that-was-really-painful-for-me/) [Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banks/) > [I always want to do a big finale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-yuh-nelson/i-always-want-to-do-a-big-finale/) [Jennifer Yuh Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-yuh-nelson/) > [I turn a lot of stuff down - big, big movies, the kind I wouldn't want to go to the cinema to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/i-turn-a-lot-of-stuff-down-big-big-movies-the-kind-i-wouldn-t-want-to/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) > [So I concentrated on the rhythmic side of things, and therefore left a lot of holes. I didn't want to use big pad chords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/midge-ure/so-i-concentrated-on-the-rhythmic-side-of-things-and-therefore-left-a/) [Midge Ure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/midge-ure/) > [I think a big part of success in football is mental, not physical. How you are inside your head matters more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iker-casillas/i-think-a-big-part-of-success-in-football-is-mental-not-physical-how/) [Iker Casillas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iker-casillas/) > [I was always attracted most to joining City, and I am pleased to be at such a good club with such a big ambition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edin-dzeko/i-was-always-attracted-most-to-joining-city-and-i-am-pleased-to-be-at/) [Edin Dzeko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edin-dzeko/) > [Making sure that people have access to preventive medicine for the first time ever as a nation? That's a big deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-schneider/making-sure-that-people-have-access-to-preventive-medicine-for-the/) [Brad Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-schneider/) > [If you read 'Lord of the Rings' and dismiss it as a lie because it has orcs and elves, you're missing the whole point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-tennapel/if-you-read-lord-of-the-rings-and-dismiss-it-as-a-lie-because-it-has/) [Doug TenNapel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-tennapel/) > [What I know about Ali Krieger is no moment is ever going to be too big for her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-ellis/what-i-know-about-ali-krieger-is-no-moment-is-ever-going-to-be-too/) [Jill Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-ellis/) Browse all 12,477 Big quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My earliest memory was watching gymnastics on live TV and wanting to do what the 'big girls' did.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Laurie Hernandez" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-hernandez/my-earliest-memory-was-watching-gymnastics-on-live-tv-and-wanting-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Big" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-hernandez/my-earliest-memory-was-watching-gymnastics-on-live-tv-and-wanting-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a49/laurie-hernandez-6355_big_my-earliest-memory-was-watching-gymnasti_8984.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a49/laurie-hernandez-6355_big_my-earliest-memory-was-watching-gymnasti_8984.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a49/laurie-hernandez-6355_big_my-earliest-memory-was-watching-gymnasti_8984.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My earliest memory was watching gymnastics on live TV and wanting to do what the 'big girls' did.” — Laurie Hernandez", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Laurie Hernandez", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-hernandez/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "My earliest memory was watching gymnastics...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-hernandez/my-earliest-memory-was-watching-gymnastics-on-live-tv-and-wanting-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-hernandez/my-earliest-memory-was-watching-gymnastics-on-live-tv-and-wanting-to/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```