Another OT, a few years ago I was driving to Huntsville once a week for a skating/hockey 101 class, where they essentially guaranteed in 8 weeks you would be permitted/qualified to participate in their "stick-n-puck" sessions and beginners scrimmages.
I was the first person, in a class of 10, to be able to complete the course that requires you to go forward, backward, and side to side....individually
It's funny but infuriating, I never could STOP. I couldn't loosen up to trust the skates at an angle I guess. Final 3 weeks, 6 totals hours, "Henley, if you can learn to stop within these cones....you're done". Never could...I loved taking faceoffs too. At 5'5' and always have been flexible/agile. I could damn near smell the ice and stay on my feet lol
Continue on!