"Pressure. Pressure is now my middle name. I didn't really understand pressure until I reached the senior level," says Jayson.
For Jayson, pressure is one of the most difficult aspects of his career to overcome. "When you're young, there's not so much of an emphasis on doing well, it's more about being happy. But now that I'm older, I want to be proud of what I've done. I put a lot of effort and heart into it because I want to prove to everyone what I'm capable of," says Jayson.
"And the butterflies in my stomach just keep getting bigger," says Jayson.
Jayson believes that confidence is the most important factor in success. "Don't get discouraged; you can be your own worst enemy," says Jayson. "Every competition is different, and you have to take each one as it comes."
Quitting has never been an option for Jayson. "I love skating so much. I've been skating for 13 years now; I couldn't imagine not. Besides, I haven't accomplished what I want to yet," says Jayson.
All the hard work and stress aside, Jayson hasn't forgotten his love for the sport. "I want to skate for as long as I can." he says. It represents for him a unique way to express his creativity. "I would like to bring something to the sport, to somehow change it for the better and make a difference, not just bring home medals," says Jayson. He wants people to remember his name and associate it with figure skating in the future. "I know a medal is the ultimate, but figure skating is so creative there is so much to give."
Just as there is more to skating than medals, there is more to Jayson than figure skating. For the past couple of months he has been studying martial arts, which he says helps him to gain control over his mind and deal with the stress of skating. "I also love music and play it all the time," Jayson says. Movies are another big interest. "Even before a competition I'll go to a movie. It's one of the only places I can go where I can relax, and not think about skating," he explains, and then add; "Just for a little bit."