I looked at the permission slip, wishing there were some special words I could say to get Mama and Papa to sign it. Around me, everyone in my homeroom was talking excitedly about the Spring Fling. Mama says she thinks the school is strange to have parties and events after school when students should be doing their homework. Ever since I’ve been at Beacon Junior High, the only slip they signed was for the gymnastics team. Papa loves sports. (I think he told Mama that giving permission for this activity was important for my education.) I can’t find words to say how grateful I was he signed that slip. The gymnastics team is a fine, good thing in my life. I compete in all the events: vault, beam, floor exercise, and my favorite: the uneven bars. I love to swing up and up, higher and higher, and as I fly through the air, a wonderful thing happens and suddenly I have no worries and no responsibilities. I’m free!

In paragraph 8, Maya says, “The gymnastics team is a fine, good thing in my life.” What does this statement reveal about her character?

The text shows that Maya loves Extracurricular activities, sports. This statement reveals she is an outgoing person who loves sports. According to the story, Maya seems to find joy when she competes in sports. Especially when she does vault, beam and, floor exercises, and particularly the uneven bars.

"I love to swing up and up, higher and higher, and as I fly through the air, a wonderful thing happens and suddenly I have no worries and no responsibilities. I’m free!"

From the text evidence, she loses all her stress and things that keep her down. Those emotions are replaced with joy and happiness. She says: "I’m free!" making it seem like she is a place of peace and joy where she can act as she desires, no worries bounding her, no responsibilities, as she says. Maya also explains how it feels for her when she is participating in these sports: "I love to swing up and up, higher and higher, and as I fly through the air, a wonderful thing happens..."