The  Ice  Princess
Submitted by Fairmont Private Schools

Alyssa  Pereslete  of  Fairmont  Private  Schools  has  emerged  as   one  of  the  top   intermediate ­ level  figure  skaters  in  the Southwest  Pacific  Region. 

While  most  adults  are  on  a  mission  to  acquire  elegance,  determination  and  both  physical  and  mental  strength, it  is  a  mission that  has   been accomplished  for  Fairmont  Prep   Academy  student  Alyssa  Pereslete, an   Olympic ­caliber  figure  skater  who   performs  with prodigious  grace, beauty   and  style. 

This personable, ebullient, intelligent and mature 13 ­year ­old from Anaheim Hills has been successfully competing at figure skating competitions since the age of four. In the past year alone, she has accomplished more than some ever do, having medaled in all but one final ­ round, making her one of the top intermediate ­level figure skaters in the Southwest Pacific Region. Included in this was a trip in June to Colorado Springs, Colorado, where she captured a medal at The Broadmoor Open against some of the top intermediate skaters in the U.S. At the Southwest Pacific Regional Championships October 4 ­8 in Culver City, Alyssa finished 14 th out of 76 skaters, despite skating with a sprained ankle.

And she has accomplished all of this while attending a demanding and challenging private school.

Training with two coaches from her team each day, Alyssa skates for two hours every morning before school. On Saturday mornings, she and her off ­ ice strength ­training coach work on various aspects of her routine such as ballet, core strength, flexibility and jump ­landing positions.

"Some people think I 'm giving up being a 'normal ' kid, that I could be playing sports at school or cheerleading, but I don 't really care for those things," Alyssa said. "I love figure skating so much I just want to go back to the rink and work harder and harder to be even better than I already am."

Helping Alyssa with her goal of becoming a world champion caliber figure skater is John Nicks, who is among the renowned coaches and skaters in the sport who has worked with many top figure skating champions, including Olympic medalist Sasha Cohen, US national champion Peggy Fleming, Jo JO Starbuck and Ken Shelley, Tai Babilonia and Randy Gardner and Jenny Meno and Todd Sand.

"Alyssa is a beautiful skater to watch," says Nicks, a member of the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame (class of 1993). "She is an elegant young skater who has made remarkable progress in the last 12 months. If she continues with this progress she will become a great skater.

"Things in the figure skating world have changed over the years," he says. "The attribute that is rare or hard to find these days is flexibility. But Alyssa has that flexibility, which will help her in his quest to become the best skater she can be. She is also now more conscious of her training, which has helped her be successful in competitions, winning medals and qualifying in final rounds."

Because Alyssa dedicates a great deal of time to figure skating, her mother Lisa is thankful of the partnership between her family and Fairmont, saying she is grateful of its support of Alyssa 's Olympic dreams ever since she the first day she attended Fairmont in the second grade.

Mrs. Pereslete says many parents of figure skaters are willing to "home school " their children because of the time conflicts between school and skating so their child can have a chance to excel at the sport. "But we draw the line when it comes to making compromises with Alyssa 's education," she says.

"Alyssa 's academics are a top priority," Mrs. Pereslete says, "and we 're appreciative to Fairmont for allowing her to take advantage of the best programs and classes and the opportunity to skate. This wouldn't work without Fairmont 's flexibility and understanding."

The education and values Alyssa has received at Fairmont has helped her in her rise as a top skater and athlete.

"Fairmont has nurtured a love for learning in Alyssa by continually challenging her academically,"Mrs. Pereslete says. "Fairmont has also brought out the best in her by giving her a platform to not only excel in the classroom but also as an individual. Credit must be given to the amazing teachers and faculty that continually support her.

"We chose Fairmont because it produces successful people, not just successful students. In today's competitive world, universities look for well ­ rounded students and individuals, not just the academically superior. A bright child will succeed no matter what school they attend, but a bright child at Fairmont has the chance to soar."

Having role models like her parents, teachers and Nicks helps when Alyssa confronts bad sportsmanship, something that plagues all sports. Throughout her nine years of competing, Alyssa has learned to deal with many difficult situations.

"Competition can get rough because there are so many girls competing for the top spot," she says. "At one event this year, there were about 54 girls from all over the U.S. competing at my level," she said, "There are girls who try to run into you, trip you or psyche you out by giving you dirty looks."

The best advice she can give is to "ignore it." Some skaters may want to make others lose confidence because of jealousy or insecurity in their own ability, but Alyssa says one can 't dwell on the negative or let it mess with their head. Even if there are people who try to bring her down, Alyssa says as soon as she steps into the rink, her mind blocks out the outside world. She focuses on what needs to be done.

"I've met girls who I consider my friends and I 've had to skate against them, and I think it 's possible to be a friend and a competitor," she says. "Competition doesn 't have to be a negative thing."

These insightful words illustrate Alyssa 's remarkable talent in figure skating is paralleled by her amazing and glowing personality as well as her maturity.

Veronica Martinez, counselor at Fairmont Private Schools, says, "Alyssa always has a smile on her face. Her attitude is what helps her meet the demands of her sport and school schedule and her incredible energy is what helps her be comfortable and succeed in both worlds."

Alyssa trains in the morning with other high ­level skaters before heading off to Fairmont, where she maintains a full academic schedule that includes three honors classes (Science, Literature, and English). How good of a student is she? "She 's on the honor roll," snaps Ms. Martinez with a proud grin.

Though balancing her figure skating and rigorous school schedule is difficult, Alyssa says it 's worth it because figure skating is what she wants to do.

"When I won my first trophy, at that moment I knew figure skating was for me," she says. "I like competing, I like the feeling of being on the ice performing, and I like the exhilaration of landing my jumps."

Of course, figure skating is not all about jumps. There is artistic interpretation, which finds its way into freestyle skating routines. Few sports give athletes an opportunity to express their personalities and emotions like figure skating. Skating can be seen as one way to explore the different sides of Alyssa 's character ­­ a character that allows her to dedicate herself to a sport she loves and allows her to have more than one dream. Standing on the Olympic podium, a gold medal dangling from her neck, listening to the national anthem, isn 't her only dream.

"My best friend and I are moving to France one day," she says with a smile. "We 're going to attend culinary school, open up our own bakery and become pastry chefs."

But there 's quite a lot to do before that - like going to the Olympics, graduating from Fairmont and getting accepted to a top university.

About  Fairmont  Private  Schools  
Fairmont  Private  Schools  has  six  campuses  throughout   Orange  County  from  pre ­school  though  12  th  grade  and  is  a  recipient  of  the  coveted  Blue   Ribbon  of  Excellence, the  highest  award  designated  to  schools  by  the  US  Department  of   Education. 
Business  Offices: 1575  W. Mable  Street  / Anaheim, CA  92802   Direct: (714) 234 ­2728  / Cell  (714) 920 ­7808   www.fairmontschools.com