For Taylor Kinion, progress has come one mile, one difficult workout and even one bad grade at a time.
The Gore High School freshman competes in cross-country and track, sports that have given her an early understanding of how slowly improvement can happen. After more than a year of year-round training, Kinion has logged what feels like hundreds of miles — and she is refreshingly candid about the experience.
“You don’t get good at something overnight,” Kinion said. “Running has taught me that patience and consistency are more important than I realized.”
That consistency has not always been enjoyable.
“I’ve put in what feels like hundreds of miles and countless hours, and I mostly hated every second of it!” Kinion said. “But that’s what has made me a better runner. I’m learning this applies to all areas of my life, not just running.”
She learned a similar lesson in eighth-grade English with Coach Goodman. Kinion remembers receiving her first F on an essay after thinking she could jot down a few paragraphs and call it finished.
“From that moment, I knew I’d have to actually work hard to pass,” Kinion said.
Goodman became one of her favorite teachers because she pushed Kinion to expect more from herself while keeping class enjoyable.
Kinion also has examples of what long-term dedication can produce. Former Gore runners Ty Bliss and her sister, Hallie Kinion, were cross-country All-Staters and track state champions. Porter’s Abby Gourd, a two-time cross-country All-Stater and state champion in multiple track events, has also inspired her. All three now attend U.S. service academies.
Beyond athletics, Kinion competes in FCCLA. Last year, her group studied emotional intelligence and its effects on children, including an exercise that took them to the elementary school to read to younger students. She also helps in her church nursery and kitchen, will lead music for vacation Bible school and has played violin for four years.
Life in Gore gives Kinion another kind of community. Her favorite hometown tradition is cruise night, held twice a year with classic cars, vendors and shops filling the small town with activity.
As she enters high school, Kinion is still collecting lessons. During a recent difficult workout, she was told she needed to become comfortable with being uncomfortable.
“I haven’t had time to put this advice into action, but I get what he’s trying to convey,” Kinion said.
After all those miles, Kinion already understands the larger point: growth rarely arrives overnight. Usually, it has to be earned along the way.
