It was a very long and hard decision. My dad kept telling me

The words of Simone Biles—“It was a very long and hard decision. My dad kept telling me, ‘You can always go to college, but you can’t always go pro.’ That made sense to me.”—speak with the quiet strength of wisdom earned through struggle. They echo the eternal tension between duty and destiny, between the safe path and the fleeting chance to grasp greatness. In this confession lies not only a daughter’s trust in her father’s counsel, but a universal truth that has guided heroes and dreamers since the dawn of time: that life offers moments which, if not seized, vanish forever. The doors of destiny do not stay open long—they demand courage, sacrifice, and faith.

At its heart, this quote reveals the wisdom of discernment—the ability to recognize the difference between what can wait and what cannot. College represents stability, structure, the path of ordinary progression. But going pro, in the world of athletic mastery, is a lightning-strike opportunity, a rare convergence of body, mind, and spirit. Time, cruel and relentless, grants youth and vitality for only a brief season. To wait too long is to watch the fire fade. Biles’s father, in his grounded wisdom, saw this truth clearly: there are decisions in life that cannot be delayed. The future belongs not to the hesitant, but to the brave who act when the moment demands it.

This balance between caution and courage has shaped the destinies of many before her. Consider Alexander the Great, who, when still young, was offered comfort and safety by his tutors, but chose instead the path of conquest. His teacher, Aristotle, taught him that education could make him wise, but only action could make him immortal. Had Alexander waited until his life felt more “secure,” the world would never have known his name. Similarly, Simone Biles, faced with the crossroads between an ordinary life and an extraordinary one, chose the fire of the moment. In doing so, she joined the company of those who understand that some opportunities are divine invitations—meant to be accepted before they disappear forever.

Yet, her father’s words also carry gentleness. They do not urge recklessness, but trust in the timing of one’s calling. “You can always go to college,” he said—a reminder that knowledge and learning are eternal pursuits, available at any stage of life. But the body of an athlete, like the blossom of spring, blooms for only a short time. To choose the path of greatness requires knowing when to leap and when to wait. It is a lesson for all who stand before the gate of decision: not every path remains open, and wisdom lies in knowing which ones must be taken now.

Biles’s journey shows us that the hardest choices often hold the richest rewards. Her decision led her into the storm of pressure, discipline, and sacrifice—but also into the sunlight of victory. She became not just a gymnast, but a symbol of perseverance, grace, and strength. Her father’s guidance—rooted in love, shaped by understanding—became the compass that directed her toward her destiny. And this, too, is part of the ancient wisdom: a parent’s counsel, given from experience, can see farther than the eyes of youth. Where the young see risk, the wise see opportunity wrapped in time’s disguise.

In every age, the same truth stands: there are choices that define the soul. One can live safely, gathering comfort and certainty, or one can take the leap that only the heart dares to take. The ancients would say that destiny favors those who act when the gods whisper, “Now.” To delay is to decline the gift of fate. Biles’s story teaches that courage is not merely daring—it is discernment. It is the knowledge that some chances come once in a lifetime, and the greatest tragedy is not failure, but hesitation.

Let this, then, be the teaching to those who come after: recognize your moment, and act before it passes. The world will always offer you security later, but greatness asks for devotion now. Trust the wisdom of those who love you, for their sight reaches beyond fear and into faith. And when the hour of choice arrives, remember Simone Biles and her father’s words: the future is vast, but opportunity is fleeting. Seize the light while it burns. For there is no greater sorrow than to look back and realize that you could have soared—but chose instead to wait.