Two years ago a friend asked me to participate in a summer AAU track meet, to see whether my soccer legs could be helpful in a 4x800 relay team that was looking for their fourth runner. That one race hooked me, and since then, I have never looked back at my decision to leave competitive club soccer to run year-round for my high school team.
I currently attend a rigorous college preparatory high school located in the San Francisco Bay Area, and live my life under a “work hard / play hard” mantra. I am a member of our varsity girl’s cross country and track teams, and train under the leadership of Coach Lindsay Schott. It has been incredible training with my small-but-mighty team under her, as Lindsay has taught me through both words and actions the meaning of integrity, hard work, and pushing yourself beyond what you ever thought was possible. While a significant portion of my high school running career has been restricted in California due to the pandemic, I have relied on my strong work ethic and self-determination to largely self-train from March 2019-March of this year, finally competing in select races in my region this past Spring. With a love of mid-distance track events, and having missed most of my sophomore and junior year seasons due to COVID, I kept my mind focused on executing coach-provided workouts to complete solo and in self-organized captains training sessions and continue my love of running. Yes, COVID has been frustrating, limiting my ability to train and compete as a team, but I have stayed true to my coach’s training regimen and look forward to having a strong in-person cross country and track season for my senior year, when I feel confident that I will break my current personal 2:20 mark in the 800. I am excited that the world is now back open.
I demand more of myself than anyone ever would of me. My teammates like me, because I set incredibly high standards, and always follow through on my word to deliver on the prescribed workouts and race goals. My teammates would describe me as incredibly hard working and disciplined, and one of the more supportive teammates across our roster. My teammates are my good friends, and I feel lucky that 6 days a week, whether in the early mornings or in the afternoon sessions, we are all there for each other, to cheer and encourage each other on, and to push each other beyond our limits.
Academically speaking, I am a strong student, with my focused track-mindset translating well in the classroom. I am a very self-directed, independent-minded student who is focused on academic success and who wants to pursue a combined public health and environmental science degree in a competitive college (ideally in a school under 10,000 students in size). Put me in a setting with the most academically-capable kids in the country, where students with passion work to problem-solve in new ways, and I will thrive. Throw in running, and I will find true happiness.
Things to know about me, beyond my academic interests and my love of running, is that I love my work with a digital health start-up and its focus on serving the needs of those underserved. I also raise chickens and manage a coral fish tank project at school. I am actively involved in my school's Women's Group and am passionate about raising awareness of toxins in beauty products and how this impacts our health. In general, I am loyal, trusting and good-hearted person that you want on a team, to form the glue for keeping everyone connected, and moving forward.
I am hungry. I am hard working. I am bright, and I would make a difference to a team. Nothing would make me happier than being able to pursue both my academic goals and running for my college team. Thank you in advance for considering me.
