She has skated in front of millions of people, landing on a thin blade of metal after revolving three times in mid-air. But this afternoon, Kimmie Meissner will be thinking like any other high school senior when she crosses the stage during Fallston High?s graduation ceremony.
“Don?t trip,” Meissner said of her mindset this afternoon at the Towson Center. “Because knowing me, I?ll be walking across and something will happen.”
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Her mother, Judy, who has graduated three sons prior to Kimmie, isn?t sure what will be running through her mind when her youngest child?s name is called.
“It?s kind of bittersweet,” Judy said. “It?s going to be a strange feeling having nobody in grade school anymore. Like every parent probably says, it?s gone by quickly. I look back and I still see the little girl in her that I saw 10 years ago. It?s a joyous time, but it?s also sad. I?m very proud of her.”
Judy will have an empty nest this fall, when Kimmie enrolls in classes at the University of Delaware, where she currently trains. But Judy has gotten practice in recent weeks, as Kimmie, 17, got her license within the last month.
“The first day I got my license, I was excited to drive by myself,” Meissner said. “[I told myself] ?You know what? I want to go to the store.? And I went. It was so cool.”
Kimmie attended Fallston?s prom last weekend at Martin?s East.
“I actually went with a big group of friends, which was nice, because I got to dance with everybody and I danced with myself sometimes,” Meissner said with a laugh. “I can?t dance at all.”
Apparently, she?s a decent figure skater, though. And she?ll be back to that in no time. On June 3, the 2006 world champion will be off to Canada, working on her short program with Lori Nichol before focusing on her long program about two weeks later.
Meissner placed fourth at the 2007 World Championships in March, just two months after claiming her first U.S. championship.
After the Worlds, she did some touring ? much like last spring ? and also focused on finishing her senior year strong. Meissner, who takes classes at Fallston in the mornings before traveling to the University of Delaware for afternoon ice training, isn?t sure yet where she finished in her graduating class.
“I do know, however, that one of my exam scores was best,” Meissner said with a giggle, explaining that she did very well in English. Just before the World Championships, she was stressing out aboutan exam on the same subject.
“I can?t believe it. This year has gone by so fast,” Meissner said. “When I started high school, I thought I was going to be there forever.”
She struggled to recall a favorite memory at the school, but did point out that a number of friends and teachers helped along the way, including Jim O?Toole, a Fallston teacher who helps Meissner with her media and autograph requests.
“At the same time,” Meissner said, “it?s happy, but sad.”
