Personal Statement
The moment that I realised I love rowing was during my first season when I competed at the Queensland (QLD) School’s State Championship Regatta. Unfortunately, my time in this sport hasn’t always been this easy. In Year 9 I incurred a knee injury—patella tendonitis—in my left knee. Despite this, I completed my season and placed 4th at QLD school state champs. In April of 2023, I sustained a facet joint injury in my mid-to-low back. I decided to sacrifice that season to fully commit to my rehab and recovery. During this time, I focused on my other passions. Music has always been a source of joy for me, and I hope that it will remain that way. I sat my Grade 4 trumpet exam and passed with honours that year. Three days before the first regatta of the racing season; my school asked if I could come back and fill in some vacant positions. I was slotted into the Year 10 2nd quad. Ultimately, we won three out of the six regattas including the most important race—The Head of the River. Through the injuries, scheduling conflicts, and high school stress, the most valuable lesson I’ve learnt is resilience. I have not only been able to prove to myself that I can rebound from unfortunate circumstances but my coaches too.
