- 2024 Highlights
Personal Statement
Except for Henley, harvest is my favourite time of year. I have worked on the family farm since I was young and have single-handedly run our grain-drying operation since I was twelve. One-hundred-hour work weeks are the norm, and teamwork is essential. If one person doesn’t perform, everything stops. Working harvest is how I learned my work ethic and team mentality.
My first year in the dryer was the most difficult. I often felt like quitting when I disappointed the crew by overloading a grain elevator or filling the pit with five tons of grain. Seeing the frustration in their eyes tore me up, but I kept at it, and now the work has become intuitive.
After my housemaster convinced me to try rowing, I was lucky to meet coach Fred Tao, who spotted my potential partly due to my size and strength. He was a kind and inspiring coach with an infectious love of rowing. He not only taught us about technique, hard work, and how to be a good crew member but also how to be a better man.
Sadly, he died of heart failure while rowing one spring day on our racecourse. He took a spot in a boat so we all got out that day. He gave everything to the people he coached. I dedicate myself to his memory by being the best I can be. He was so influential that there is a school-wide initiative called “Be More Fred.”
Rowing for a competitive US program while majoring in engineering is one of the best ways I can “Be More Fred.”
