I am a gymnast, so growing up I obviously idolized the USA Gymnastics Team. Team USA was known as the Fierce Five, and my favorite was, by far, Aly Raisman. They were all amazing, but as soon as I found out that "Aly" was short for "Alexandra", she was instantly the best. We shared the same first name, wow, it was almost like we were twins at that point. Sounds silly, but I was five years old at the time. It made sense back then, and she still holds a spot in my heart as my gym sister. I saw here compete once when Team USA travelled to the Chicago Area to compete, the resemblance was amazing. At level 3, there are easily 20 girls on every club team, but every year a few girls drop out, tired of the tough schedules, the difficult practices, and the sacrifices. When school ends, my day is far from over. While most other students go home, I jump in the car and drive an hour to the gym. I train four hours a day, six days a week, and there is no off season. We learn new skills over the summer, perfect them in the Fall, compete the regular season into Spring. We travel all over the country to compete against the best. Summer starts, and the cycle repeats. Fast forward to today. I am a Level 10 USAG Junior Olympic gymnast. I look at gymnasts differently now. I know the hard work and sacrifice that it takes to stay in the sport, and the extra effort and dedication it takes to be one of the best. My current favorite USA athlete is Simone Biles, but probably not for the same reason as most people would think. Sure, she's the GOAT, almost superhuman, absolutely amazing. In 2021 at the Tokyo Olympics, however, something happened and she backed out of the meet. Everyone was confused, they didn't know why. She wasn't hurt, physically, why won't she compete? She showed everyone that she too, is human. Few understood what happened at first, but I did. I felt the pain. She was hit with mental blocks, just like me. Gymnasts push our bodies to the limit, twisting and turning in the air, balancing on a beam that is 4 feet above the ground and only 4 inches wide. One small misstep can lead to injury. I have collected well over twenty different injuries during my fifteen years of being a gymnast. Ironically, it’s not the pain of injury that a gymnast fears, but the time away from training. It hurts watching your team compete from the sidelines. You train your body to do unnatural things, ignoring your body’s natural instinct of self-preservation, to stay out of harm. A gymnast pushes to the limit, both physically and mentally. Most gymnasts suffer mental blocks at some point; but they occur on a somewhat regular basis for me. Maybe it's the broken ribs I suffered a few years back, or the countless bruises on my arms trying to catch a release move. I just can't get my hands to open to let go of the bar sometimes. I freeze. I know its normal to feel this way, it's nature's "fight or flight" instinct that is part of every animal's DNA. I've had several sports therapists and mental coaches work with me. Knowing why I have these mental blocks, why my body does not react or listen to my brain helps calm me at those moments. I cheer for Simone Biles; my favorite, we are like gym sisters.

The stress of competition is overwhelming. We train all year for an event that lasts a few minutes, where a simple mistake can be the difference between winning and losing. When you train so hard you have calloused hands and need to ice your feet after every practice, the scores matter. A good score keeps you going, a bad score can be heartbreaking. Judges don’t award points for doing well, they score you by starting out with a perfect 10, then counting every mistake, deducting from there, scrutinizing every move down to how you point your toes. Student athletes are different. Sure, we do the usual kid stuff like go to school and hang out with friends, but there is another side of our lives, one that is intense. We compete, we sacrifice, we push ourselves to the limit, physically and mentally. The pressure is overwhelming. When school ends, my day is far from over. While most other students go home, I jump in the car and drive an hour to the gym, eating a quick meal on the way to get my energy level up. The car ride is where I mentally prepare. It's like turning a light switch, going from normal kid to athlete. I need to focus, because I am a Level 10 Junior Olympic gymnast. There is no Level 11. It's mentally exhausting, and more than once, I’ve broken down in tears. Four hours a day, six days a week, and there is no off season. We learn new skills over the summer, perfect them in the Fall, compete the regular season into Spring. We travel all over the country to compete against the best. The season ends around April, just in time for final exams in school. Summer starts, and the cycle repeats. It is tough, most girls quit way before they get to this level. I love it. We push our bodies to the limit, twisting and turning in the air, balancing on a beam that is 4 feet above the ground and only 4 inches wide. Adding to this challenge is the fact that we are technically still just kids. Our bodies are growing and constantly changing, so we adapt. One small misstep can lead to injury. Ironically, it’s not the pain of injury that a gymnast fears, but the time away from training. It hurts watching your team compete from the sidelines. I’ve been there, it’s the worst. Mental blocks are common. You train your body to do unnatural things, ignoring your body’s natural instinct of self-preservation, to stay out of harm. A gymnast pushes to the limit, both physically and mentally. I have collected well over twenty different injuries during my fifteen years of being a gymnast. I am not unique; our sport is brutal. Most doctors don't understand student athletes. Athletes can't just take six weeks off and rest any time we get hurt. A badly timed injury can kill a whole season. We condition and train around our injuries, work around the pain to strengthen everything around it. At level 10, every girl is nursing an old injury, has a body part taped for a little added support. I've had many friends quite because their injuries were so severe, their road to recovery too long to return, physically and mentally. The saddest thing to see is an ambulance pulling up to a gym meet. We condition not just to excel, but to make our bodies stronger, more resistant to injury. Most gymnasts suffer mental blocks at some point, and I am no exception. Truth is, I still have mental blocks on a regular basis. The balance beam is my best event, and the floor is a close second. I can manage vault, as scary as it sometimes is, but the uneven bars are my Kryptonite. Maybe it's the broken ribs I suffered a few years back, or the countless bruises on my arms trying to catch a release move. I just can't get my hands to open to let go of the bar. I freeze. I know its normal to feel this way, it's nature's "fight or flight" instinct that is part of every animal's DNA. We gymnasts need to overcome it to succeed. I've had several sports therapists and mental coaches work with me. Most have methods or techniques to use to trick your mind and condition it to overcome these natural fears. Some of their techniques work but knowing why I have fears and why I freeze helps me best cope and overcome. If I can do this, I can do anything. Despite the mental struggle, I love this sport. I’ve been in an out of doctors’ offices my whole life; had countless x-rays and MRI’s, broken bones and even surgery. I’ve become fascinated with my bones, muscles, and joints. Thinking about my future after sports, I find myself with a passion for biology and the human body. I want to stay connected to sports even when my competitive years are over. My dream is to help young athletes, like me, overcome their injuries in a way that considers the specific needs of their sport. Going beyond that, I want to focus also on prevention. I want to take sports medicine to a higher level, not just focus on recovery, but to get kids stronger so they come back better. I aim to help heal young athletes, physically and mentally, and educate them how to avoid future injuries and excel, post recovery. I know that staying mentally focused and determined, even when injured, is critical to long term success. As an athlete, my experiences competing at the highest level, and dealing with injuries my entire career, will give me unique insights and compassion for other junior athletes. I am currently committed for the 2025 school year to the University of Alaska, Anchorage as a Division 1 Gymnast, the highest level of NCAA gymnastics in college. My major is kinesiology, with a goal of specialization in sports medicine.

Student athletes are different. Sure, we do the usual kid stuff like go to school and hang out with friends, but there is another side of our lives. We compete, we sacrifice, we push ourselves to the limit. Of all the sports, gymnastics is the most difficult, the toughest on an athlete's mind and body. Four hours a day, six days a week, and there is no off season. We learn new skills over the summer, perfect them in the Fall, compete the regular season into Spring. We travel all over the country to compete against the best. The season ends around April, just in time for final exams in school. Summer starts, and the cycle repeats. I am a Level 10 Junior Olympic gymnast. Strength, coordination and timing are everything. We push our bodies to the limits, twisting and turning in the air, balancing on a beam that is 4 feet above the ground and only 4 inches wide. Adding to this challenge is the fact that we are technically still just kids. Our bodies are growing and constantly changing. One small misstep can lead to injury. Ironically, it’s not the pain of injury that we fear, but the time away from training. It hurts watching your team compete from the sidelines. I’ve been there; it’s the worst. You train your body to do unnatural things, ignoring your body’s instinct of self-preservation to stay out of harm. I have collected well over twenty different injuries during my fifteen years of being a gymnast. I am not unique; our sport is brutal. Most doctors don't understand student athletes. Athletes can't just take six weeks off and rest any time we get hurt. A badly timed injury can kill a whole season. We condition and train around our injuries, work around the pain to strengthen everything around it. At level 10, every girl is nursing an old injury, has a body part taped for a little added support. I've had many friends quite because their injuries were so severe, their road to recovery too long to return, physically and mentally. The saddest thing to see is an ambulance pulling up to a gym meet. We condition not just to excel, but to make our bodies stronger, more resistant to injury. I’ve been in an out of doctors’ offices my whole life. I’ve had countless x-rays and MRI’s, broken bones and even surgery. I’ve become fascinated with my bones, muscles, and joints. Thinking about my future after sports, I find myself with a passion for biology and the human body. I want to stay connected to sports even when my competitive years are over. My dream is to help young athletes, like me, treat their injuries in a way that considers the specific needs of their sport. Going beyond that, I want to focus also on prevention. I want to take sports medicine to a higher level, not just focus on recovery, but to get kids stronger so they come back better. I aim to help heal young athletes, physically and mentally, and educate them how to avoid future injuries and excel in their sport post recovery. As an athlete, my experiences competing at the highest level, and dealing with injuries my entire career, will give me unique insights and compassion for other junior athletes following the same path as I did. I am currently committed for the 2025 school year to the University of Alaska, Anchorage as a Division 1 Gymnast, the highest level of NCAA gymnastics in college. My major is kinesiology, with a goal of specialization in sports medicine.

If I were looking to award a student with a scholarship, I would look for someone appreciative, who works hard for everything they have and a track record of dedication. The person does not take anything for granted. The recipient should have definite goals for what he or she wants to do in the future, so the gift is used wisely. It would be someone that volunteers, so they know not just how to receive charity, but humble enough feel a moral duty to pay it forward. I am Level 10 USAG Junior Olympic gymnast. When school ends in the afternoon, my day is just beginning. While other students go home, I jump in the car and drive for an hour to the gym while scarfing down a quick meal to get my energy level up. The car ride is when I mentally prepare for what comes next. I shed the pressures from school, exams and homework. I train four hours a day, six days a week, and there is no off season. I learn new skills over the summer, perfect them in the Fall, then compete the regular season in the winter and spring. We travel all over the country to compete against the best. The season ends just in time for final exams, then Summer starts, and the cycle repeats. It's tough, most girls quit way before they get to this level. You train your body to do unnatural things, ignoring your body’s instinct of self-preservation to stay out of harm. I have collected well over twenty different injuries during my fifteen years of being a gymnast. I am not unique; our sport is brutal. A badly timed injury can kill a whole season. We condition and train around our injuries. I’ve been in an out of doctors’ offices my whole life. I’ve had countless x-rays and MRI’s, broken bones and had surgery once. I’ve become fascinated with my bones, muscles, and joints. This interest has filtered into schoolwork as I find myself with a passion for biology and the human body. I plan to stay connected to sports even when my competitive years are over. My dream is to help athletes, like me, find effective treatments for their injuries that consider the specific needs of their sport. Going beyond that, I want to focus also on prevention. I want to take sports medicine to a higher level, not just focus on recovery but to get kids stronger. I aim to help heal young athletes and educate them how to avoid future injuries and excel in their sport post recovery. I volunteer at church, at school and at the gym. At school I am a part of the Associated Student Body, Student Government. I am also a U Leader, which is a group of students charged with promoting school spirit during school events and football games. At the gym, I come in early once a week to help coach the younger girls' team. When I was little I looked up to the older girls, amazed at what they could do, wanting to be like them. Gymnastics can be a lonely sport. Coaching kids reminds me that this sport can be fun, and working with the little girls makes me feel like I'm a part of a community. I am currently committed for the 2025 school year to the University of Alaska, Anchorage as a Division 1 Gymnast. I’ve worked my whole life to get to this point, the highest level of NCAA gymnastics. My major is kinesiology, with a goal of post graduate specialization in sports medicine.

Consistently expressing all your values is more telling than just one example of a core value, as it's the day-to-day actions that really define someone's character and their impact on the people around them. HUNGRY. I am a Level 10 USAG Junior Olympic gymnast. I train four hours a day, six days a week, and there is no off season. I learn new skills over the summer, perfect them in the Fall, then compete the regular season in the winter and spring. We travel all over the country to compete against the best. The season ends just in time for final exams, then Summer starts, and the cycle repeats. It's tough, most girls quit way before they get to this level. You need to be hungry, to sacrifice so much, to push yourself mentally and physically beyond your limits to succeed. SMART My parents were right when they said to surround myself with smart friends. It happened by chance, not really by design, but it worked out. Since I'm somewhat competitive, I work hard to keep up with them in school. I have all honors and AP college level classes and have a 4.2 GPA on a 4.0 scale. Truth is, I need to work harder than most, simply because I have less time. I'm in the gym after school every day, get home late and usually cannot start my homework until 9 pm. I've learned to be efficient with my time, to take good notes and to be consistent. I work smart out of necessity and found a routine that works for me. ETHICAL I try to be good and give back. I volunteer at church, at school and at the gym. At school I am a part of the Associated Student Body, Student Government and in charge of multimedia content, creating ads and promotional videos to fundraise for the school. I am also a U Leader, which is a group of students charged with promoting school spirit during school events and games. At the gym, I come in early once a week to help coach the younger girls' team. When I was little, I looked up to the older girls, amazed at what they could do, wanting to be like them. Gymnastics can be a lonely sport. You compete alone, all eyes are on you, and the judges are looking for your mistakes and counting up the deductions. Coaching kids reminds me that this sport can be fun, and working with the little girls makes me feel like I'm a part of a community. HUMBLE It's hard to sound humble when you are asked to write about yourself but also need to convince someone that you are worthy of their support. If I was asked to define the traits of a humble person, I would say its someone who works hard for everything they have, doesn't take anything for granted or look for praise, but does what they do consistently because it's just who they are. This could be me, and I'd like to think I have a positive impact on my family, my friends, my team and my community every day. I am currently committed for the 2025 school year to the University of Alaska, Anchorage as a Division 1 Gymnast. My major is kinesiology, with a goal of post graduate specialization in sports medicine. Radiology is an interest of mine as it will give me a deeper understanding of how the human body, and all its intricate parts work. My dream job would be as a trainer for a sports team, kids, college or professional team.

Hunger drives a student athlete. We are just different, not "normal". Sure, do the usual kid stuff like go to school and sometimes hang out with friends, but there is another side of our lives, one that is intense. We compete, we sacrifice, we push ourselves to the limits. When school ends in the afternoon, my day is just beginning. While other students go home, I jump in the car and drive for an hour to the gym while scarfing down a quick meal to get my energy level up. The car ride is when I mentally prepare for what comes next. I shed the pressures from school, exams and homework. I need to focus, because I am a Level 10 Junior Olympic gymnast. Four hours a day, six days a week, and there is no off season. You learn new skills over the summer, perfect them in the Fall, then compete the regular season in the winter and spring. We compete in State meet and regionals, travelling all over the country to compete against the best. The season ends just in time for final exams, then Summer starts, and the cycle repeats. It's tough, most girls quit way before they get to this level. Gymnastics is a tough sport that involves both mental and physical dedication. It requires year-round training; timing is everything and you need to stay sharp. We push our bodies to the limits, doing unnatural things like twisting and turning in the air while balancing on a beam that is 4 feet above the ground and only 4 inches wide. Adding to this challenge is the fact that we are technically still just kids; our bodies are growing and constantly changing. One small misstep can lead to injury. Ironically, it’s not the pain a gymnast worries about when injured. We are used to that. It's the time away from the gym that we fear. A badly timed injury can kill a whole season. Nothing worse than watching your team compete from the sidelines. I’ve been there; it’s the worst. I have collected well over twenty different injuries during my fifteen years of being a gymnast. We don't take time away from the gym, even when injured. We condition ourselves to work around injuries, to continue to improve as an athlete. Injury your elbow, you work your legs and core. Injure your foot and its upper body conditioning. Strengthen everything around the injury and come back better, stronger than before. A side effect of my history of sports is that I have become fascinated with my muscles, joints and bones, and developed a passion for learning about the human body. It's fascinating how ligaments, muscles and tendons work together in even the simplest of motions, which we all take for granted, until something does not work the way it should because of an injury. I want to stay connected to sports as much as possible, even when my competing days are over. My dream is to help athletes, like me, not just recover, but to focus on prevention by strengthening both body and mind to avoid future injuries. I am currently committed for the 2025 school year to the University of Alaska, Anchorage as a Division 1 Gymnast. My major is kinesiology, with a goal of post graduate specialization in sports medicine. Radiology is also an interest of mine as it will give me a deeper understanding of how the human body, and all its intricate parts work. My dream job would be as a trainer for a professional sport, college or Olympic team.

Healthcare is backwards. It waits for trauma, focuses on treating symptoms and injuries rather than prevention and health. At seventeen, I already know better. I am a Level 10 Junior Olympic gymnast. Staying healthy and injury free is a challenge. At this level, everyone has battle scars; old injuries, tender spots, bruises hidden by the long sleeve leotards we wear during competition. Almost everyone on the floor has something on their body is taped, an ankle or a wrist, looking for just a little added support. I train four hours a day, six days a week, and there is no off season. As a gymnast, I train my body to do unnatural things, ignoring my body’s natural instinct to self-preserve, to stay out of harm's way. A gymnast wears no padding, no shin guards or shoulder pads. We are exposed. The uneven bars are my Kryptonite. Maybe it's the broken ribs I suffered years ago, or the countless bruises on my arms trying to catch a release move. I just can't get my hands to open to let go of the bar. I freeze. I know its normal to feel this way, mental blocks are common in my sport, nature's "fight or flight" instinct that is part of every animal's DNA. A gymnast needs to overcome nature itself to succeed. We push our bodies to the limit, twisting and turning in the air, balancing on a beam that is 4 feet above the ground and only 4 inches wide. Adding to this challenge is the fact that our bodies are still growing and constantly changing, so we adapt. One small misstep can lead to injury. Ironically, it’s not the pain of injury that a gymnast fears, but the time away from training. It hurts watching your team compete from the sidelines. I’ve been there, it’s the worst. I have collected well over twenty different injuries during my fifteen years of being a gymnast. It's the unfortunate nature of the sport when you push the limits of what the human body can do. I’ve learned to understand my body and trust it; to form my own recovery plan that allows me to train, even when injured. I understand the importance of giving my body time to rest and recover, to eat right to fuel my body. I also know I need to train when hurt, to strengthen around an injury so I can come back quicker, stronger than before. Most doctors don't understand student athletes. We can't just take four to six weeks off and rest. Four weeks out means another four weeks of training to get back to where you were before the injury. A badly timed injury can kill a whole season. If I sprain my foot, I need to know what ligament is affected, what motions should I avoid and which motions can I perform safely while I wait for my body to heal. I plan to stay connected to sports when my competitive years are over. My goal is to help athletes, like me, recover from injury and then develop lifestyle plans that take into account the specific needs of their sport; going beyond just treating the obvious symptoms. I want to focus on prevention and education for long term success. I am currently committed to the University of Alaska, Anchorage as a Division 1 NCAA Gymnast starting in the Fall of 2025. My major is kinesiology, with a goal of post graduate specialization in sports medicine. Radiology is also an interest of mine as it will give me a deeper understanding of the human body.

I am a Level 10 Junior Olympic gymnast. Gymnastics is my passion. Four hours a day, six days a week, and there is no off season. We learn new skills over the summer, perfect them in the Fall, compete the regular season into Spring. We travel all over the country to compete against the best. The season ends around April, just in time for final exams in school. Summer starts, and the cycle repeats. Most girls quit way before they get to this level. Strength, coordination and timing are everything. We push our bodies to the limits, twisting and turning in the air, balancing on a beam that is 4 feet above the ground and only 4 inches wide. Adding to this challenge is the fact that we are technically still just kids. Our bodies are growing and constantly changing. One small misstep can lead to injury. Ironically, it’s not the pain of injury that we fear, but the time away from training. It hurts watching your team compete from the sidelines. I’ve been there, it’s the worst. You train your body to do unnatural things, ignoring your body’s instinct of self-preservation to stay out of harm. I have collected well over twenty different injuries during my fifteen years of being a gymnast. I am not unique; our sport is brutal. Healthcare is backwards. It waits for trauma, focuses on treating symptoms and injuries rather than prevention and health. Most doctors don't understand student athletes. Athletes can't just take six weeks off and rest. A badly timed injury can kill a whole season. We condition and train around our injuries. In the gym, every girl is nursing an old injury or has a body part taped. We condition not just to excel, but to make our bodies stronger, more resistant to injury. I’ve been in an out of doctors’ offices my whole life. I’ve had countless x-rays and MRI’s, broken bones and had surgery once. I’ve become fascinated with my bones, muscles, and joints. This interest has filtered into schoolwork as I find myself with a passion for biology and the human body. I want to stay connected to sports even when my competitive years are over. My dream is to help athletes, like me, find effective treatments for their injuries that consider the specific needs of their sport. Going beyond that, I want to focus also on prevention. I want to take sports medicine to a higher level, not just focus on recovery but to get kids stronger. I aim to help heal young athletes and educate them how to avoid future injuries and excel in their sport post recovery. I am currently committed for the 2025 school year to the University of Alaska, Anchorage as a Division 1 Gymnast. My major is kinesiology, with a goal of post graduate specialization in sports medicine. I am a walk-on, meaning I am not on scholarship for my sport. This scholarship will help me follow my passion and my dream.

I played many sports growing up, but as you advance in any sport, they increase training, add days and increase commitment. One by one they all dropped off as I focused on my passion, gymnastics. Student athletes are different. Sure, we do the usual kid stuff like go to school and hang out with friends, but there is another side of our lives, one that is intense. We compete, we sacrifice, we push ourselves to the limit, physically and mentally. It’s a full-time job to be an athlete, requiring a strong work ethic, discipline, leadership, teamwork and a competitive spirit. Gymnastics has shaped me into the person I am today. I have learned to be efficient with time, multi-tasking is my friend. There is so little time between school, studying, volunteering and gym. When school ends, my day is far from over. While most other students go home, I jump in the car and drive an hour to the gym, eating a quick meal on the way to get my energy level up. The car ride is where I mentally prepare. I need to focus, because I am a Level 10 Junior Olympic gymnast. Four hours a day, six days a week, and there is no off season. We learn new skills over the summer, perfect them in the Fall, compete the regular season into Spring. My parents travel all over the country with me so I can compete against the best. The season ends around April, just in time for finals. Summer starts, and the cycle repeats. It is tough, most girls quit way before they get to this level. As a gymnast, I train my body to do unnatural things, ignoring my body’s natural instinct to self-preserve, to stay out of harm's way. A gymnast wears no padding, no shin guards or shoulder pads. We are exposed. I have collected well over twenty different injuries during my fifteen years of being a gymnast. It's the unfortunate nature of the sport when you push the limits of what the human body can do. I’ve learned to understand my body and trust it; to form my own recovery plan that allows me to train, even when injured. I understand the importance of giving my body time to rest and recover, to eat right to fuel my body. I also know I need to train when hurt, to strengthen around an injury so I can come back quicker, stronger than before. Most doctors don't understand student athletes. We can't just take four to six weeks off and rest. Four weeks out means another four weeks of training to get back to where you were before the injury. A badly timed injury can kill a whole season. We condition not just to excel, but to make our bodies stronger, more resistant to injury. I plan to stay connected to sports when my competitive years are over. My goal is to help athletes, like me, develop lifestyle plans that take into account their sport's specific needs, going beyond just treating the obvious symptoms, but also focusing on prevention and education for long term success. I've worked hard my whole life, learned a lot along the way, and want to pass along my experience as a student athlete. I am currently committed to the University of Alaska, Anchorage as a Division 1 NCAA Gymnast starting in the Fall of 2025. My major is kinesiology, with a goal of post graduate specialization in sports medicine. Radiology is also an interest of mine as it will give me a deeper understanding of the human body.

We compete, we sacrifice, we push ourselves to the limit, physically and mentally. Student athletes are just different. Sure, we do the usual kid stuff like go to school and hang out with friends, but there is another side of our lives, one that is intense. When school ends, my day is far from over. While most other students go home, I jump in the car and drive an hour to the gym, eating a quick meal on the way to get my energy level up. The car ride is where I mentally prepare. I need to focus. I am a Level 10 Junior Olympic gymnast. Four hours a day, six days a week, and there is no off season. We learn new skills over the summer, perfect them in the Fall, compete the regular season into Spring. We travel all over the country to compete against the best. The season ends around April, just in time for final exams in school. Summer starts, and the cycle repeats. It is tough, most girls quit way before they get to this level. We push our bodies to the limit, twisting and turning in the air, balancing on a beam that is 4 feet above the ground and only 4 inches wide. Adding to this challenge is the fact that we are technically still just kids. Our bodies are growing and constantly changing, so we adapt. One small misstep can lead to injury. Ironically, it’s not the pain of injury that a gymnast fears, but the time away from training. It hurts watching your team compete from the sidelines. I’ve been there; it’s the worst. The stress of competition is overwhelming. We train all year for an event that lasts a few minutes, where a simple mistake can be the difference between winning and losing. When you train so hard you have callouses on your hands and need to ice your feet after every practice, the scores matter. A good score keeps you going, a bad score can be heartbreaking. I have collected well over twenty different injuries during my fifteen years of being a gymnast. It's the unfortunate nature of the sport when you push the limits of what the human body can do. I’ve learned to understand my body and trust it; to form my own recovery plan that allows me to train, even when injured. I understand the importance of giving my body time to rest and recover, to eat right to fuel my body. I also know I need to train when hurt, to strengthen around an injury so I can come back quicker, stronger than before. You train your body to do unnatural things, ignoring its instinct of self-preservation and stay out of harm's way. The balance beam is my best event by far, and my floor routine is usually good as well. I can manage vault, as scary as it sometimes is, but the uneven bars are my Kryptonite. Maybe it's the broken ribs I suffered a few years back, or the countless bruises on my arms trying to catch a release move. I just can't get my hands to open to let go of the bar. I freeze. Mental blocks are normal, they are nature's "fight or flight" instinct and part of every animal's DNA. We gymnasts need to overcome it to succeed. I've had several sports therapists and mental coaches work with me. Most have methods or techniques to trick your mind and condition it to overcome these natural fears. The sessions usually start by asking why I want to do gymnastics, followed by the inevitable question: do you want to quit? Without hesitation I say no. The best I can explain it is that it's like riding a roller coaster. It's scary and when you are on the top of the first big drop you question why you got on the ride, but when it's over you jump back in line to ride again. If I can do this, I can do anything. Despite the mental struggle, I love this sport and am a stronger person for it. I am currently committed to the University of Alaska, Anchorage as a Division 1 NCAA Gymnast starting in the Fall of 2025. My major is kinesiology, with a goal of post graduate specialization in sports medicine. I am a walk-on, meaning I earned a spot on the team, but am not on athletic scholarship. This scholarship will help me pursue my goals in gymnastics and my future in sports medicine. I plan to stay connected to sports when my competitive years are over. My goal is to help student athletes, like me, overcome injuries and develop lifestyle plans that take into account their specific sport, focusing on injury prevention and education for long term health.

Student athletes are different. We compete, we sacrifice, we push ourselves to the limit, physically and mentally. Sure, we do the usual kid stuff like go to school and hang out with friends, but there is another side of our lives, one that can be mentally overwhelming. By necessity, I am better organized than a typical teenager. I plan my day, sometimes down to the minute, when I can squeeze in 15 minutes to do an assignment, or 10 minutes before practice to have a meal. I've become very efficient with my day, like a machine. This is how I survive. If I think too much, I won't get anything done. The end of the day is when I take a breath, review the day and plan for the next. When school ends, my day is far from over. While most other students go home, I jump in the car and drive an hour to the gym, eating a quick meal on the way to get my energy level up. The car ride is where I mentally prepare. I am a Level 10 Junior Olympic gymnast. Four hours a day, six days a week, and there is no off season. We learn new skills over the summer, perfect them in the Fall, compete the regular season into Spring. We travel all over the country to compete against the best. The season ends around April, just in time for final exams in school. Summer starts, and the cycle repeats. Most girls quit way before they get to this level. We push our bodies to the limit, twisting and turning in the air, balancing on a beam that is 4 feet above the ground and only 4 inches wide. Adding to this challenge is the fact that we are technically still just kids. Our bodies are growing and constantly changing, so we adapt. One small misstep can lead to injury. Ironically, it’s not the pain of injury that a gymnast fears, but the time away from training. It hurts watching your team compete from the sidelines. I’ve been there; it’s the worst. The stress of competition is overwhelming. We train all year for an event that lasts a few minutes, where a simple mistake can be the difference between winning and losing. When you train so hard you have callouses on your hands, the scores matter. A good score keeps you going, motivates you to push harder. A bad score can be heartbreaking. Judges don’t award points for doing well, they score you by counting your mistakes. No pressure. Mental blocks are common. You train your body to do unnatural things, ignoring your body’s natural instinct of self-preservation, to stay out of harm. Most gymnasts suffer mental blocks at some point. The balance beam and floor routine are my best events, and I can manage vault, as scary as it is sometimes. The uneven bars are my Kryptonite, however. Maybe it's the broken ribs I suffered a few years back, I just can't get my hands to open to let go of the bar sometimes. I freeze. Mental blocks are normal, they are nature's "fight or flight" instinct that is part of every animal's DNA. Gymnasts need to overcome it to succeed. I've had several sports therapists and mental coaches work with me, sharing methods and techniques to trick my mind and condition it to overcome these natural fears. I battle it out every day, tell myself to be tough. If I can do this, I can do anything. Being mentally strong is as important as being physically strong in this sport.

I played many sports growing up, but as you advance in any sport, they increase training, add days and increase commitment. One by one they all dropped off as I focused on my passion, gymnastics. Student athletes are different. Sure, we do the usual kid stuff like go to school and hang out with friends, but there is another side of our lives, one that is intense. We compete, we sacrifice, we push ourselves to the limit, physically and mentally. It’s a full-time job to be an athlete, requiring a strong work ethic, discipline, leadership, teamwork and a competitive spirit. Gymnastics has shaped me into the person I am today. I have learned to be efficient with time, multi-tasking is my friend. There is so little time between school, studying, volunteering and gym. When school ends, my day is far from over. While most other students go home, I jump in the car and drive an hour to the gym, eating a quick meal on the way to get my energy level up. The car ride is where I mentally prepare. I need to focus, because I am a Level 10 Junior Olympic gymnast. Four hours a day, six days a week, and there is no off season. We learn new skills over the summer, perfect them in the Fall, compete the regular season into Spring. We travel all over the country to compete against the best. The season ends around April, just in time for finals. Summer starts, and the cycle repeats. It is tough, most girls quit way before they get to this level. As a gymnast, I train my body to do unnatural things, ignoring my body’s natural instinct to self-preserve, to stay out of harm's way. A gymnast wears no padding, no shin guards or shoulder pads. We are exposed. I have collected well over twenty different injuries during my fifteen years of being a gymnast. It's the unfortunate nature of the sport when you push the limits of what the human body can do. I’ve learned to understand my body and trust it; to form my own recovery plan that allows me to train, even when injured. I understand the importance of giving my body time to rest and recover, to eat right to fuel my body. I also know I need to train when hurt, to strengthen around an injury so I can come back quicker, stronger than before. Most doctors don't understand student athletes. We can't just take four to six weeks off and rest. Four weeks out means another four weeks of training to get back to where you were before the injury. A badly timed injury can kill a whole season. We condition not just to excel, but to make our bodies stronger, more resistant to injury. I plan to stay connected to sports when my competitive years are over. My goal is to help athletes, like me, develop lifestyle plans that take into account the specific needs of their sport; going beyond just treating the obvious symptoms, but also focusing on prevention and education for long term success. I've worked hard my whole life, learned a lot along the way, and want to pass along my experience as a student athlete. I am currently committed to the University of Alaska, Anchorage as a Division 1 NCAA Gymnast starting in the Fall of 2025. My major is kinesiology, with a goal of post graduate specialization in sports medicine. Radiology is also an interest of mine as it will give me a deeper understanding of the human body.

Healthcare is backwards. It waits for trauma, focuses on treating symptoms and injuries rather than prevention and health. At seventeen, I already know better. I am a Level 10 Junior Olympic gymnast. There is no Level 11. Staying healthy and injury free is a challenge. At this level, everyone has battle scars; old injuries, tender spots, bruises hidden by the long sleeve leotards we wear during competition. Almost everyone on the floor has something on their body is taped, an ankle or a wrist, looking for just a little added support. I train four hours a day, six days a week, and there is no off season. We learn new skills over the summer, perfect them in the Fall, compete the regular season into Spring. We travel all over the country to compete against the best. The season ends around April, just in time for final exams in school. Summer starts, and the cycle repeats. It is tough, most girls quit way before they get to this level. As a gymnast, I train my body to do unnatural things, ignoring my body’s natural instinct to self-preserve, to stay out of harm's way. A gymnast wears no padding, no shin guards or shoulder pads. We are exposed. The uneven bars are my Kryptonite. Maybe it's the broken ribs I suffered years ago, or the countless bruises on my arms trying to catch a release move. I just can't get my hands to open to let go of the bar. I freeze. I know its normal to feel this way, mental blocks are common in my sport, nature's "fight or flight" instinct that is part of every animal's DNA. A gymnast needs to overcome nature itself to succeed. I have collected well over twenty different injuries during my fifteen years of being a gymnast. It's the unfortunate nature of the sport when you push the limits of what the human body can do. I’ve learned to understand my body and trust it; to form my own recovery plan that allows me to train, even when injured. I understand the importance of giving my body time to rest and recover, to eat right to fuel my body. I also know I need to train when hurt, to strengthen around an injury so I can come back quicker, stronger than before. Most doctors don't understand student athletes. We can't just take four to six weeks off and rest. Four weeks out means another four weeks of training to get back to where you were before the injury. A badly timed injury can kill a whole season. We condition not just to excel, but to make our bodies stronger, more resistant to injury. I plan to stay connected to sports when my competitive years are over. My goal is to help athletes, like me, develop lifestyle plans that take into account the specific needs of their sport; going beyond just treating the obvious symptoms, but also focusing on prevention and education for long term success. I am currently committed to the University of Alaska, Anchorage as a Division 1 NCAA Gymnast starting in the Fall of 2025. My major is kinesiology, with a goal of post graduate specialization in sports medicine. Radiology is also an interest of mine as it will give me a deeper understanding of the human body. I am a walk-on, meaning I earned a spot on the team, but am not on athletic scholarship. I need to find another way to pay for school. This scholarship will help me pursue my goals in gymnastics and my future in holistic sports medicine.

I played many sports growing up. I ice skated when I could barely walk, learned ballet at the Joffrey and swam at the YMCA. Once I could swim, I competed springboard diving and even played the drums at the School of Rock. But as you advance in any sport, they increase training, add days and increase commitment. One by one they all dropped off as I focused on my passion, gymnastics. Student athletes are different. Sure, we do the usual kid stuff like go to school and hang out with friends, but there is another side of our lives, one that is intense. We compete, we sacrifice, we push ourselves to the limit, physically and mentally. I have learned to be efficient with time, multi-tasking is my friend. There is so little time between school, studying, volunteering and gym. When school ends, my day is far from over. While most other students go home, I jump in the car and drive an hour to the gym, eating a quick meal on the way to get my energy level up. The car ride is where I mentally prepare. I need to focus, because I am a Level 10 Junior Olympic gymnast. There is no Level 11. Four hours a day, six days a week, and there is no off season. We learn new skills over the summer, perfect them in the Fall, compete the regular season into Spring. We travel all over the country to compete against the best. The season ends around April, just in time for finals. Summer starts, and the cycle repeats. It is tough, most girls quit way before they get to this level. We push our bodies to the limit, twisting and turning in the air, balancing on a beam that is 4 feet above the ground and only 4 inches wide. Adding to this challenge is the fact that we are technically still just kids. Our bodies are growing and constantly changing, so we adapt. One small misstep can lead to injury. Ironically, it’s not the pain of injury that a gymnast fears, but the time away from training. It hurts watching your team compete from the sidelines. I’ve been there; it’s the worst. The stress of competition is overwhelming. We train all year for an event that lasts a few minutes, where a simple mistake can be the difference between winning and losing. Mental blocks are common. You train your body to do unnatural things, ignoring your body’s natural instinct of self-preservation, to stay out of harm. A gymnast wears no padding, no shin guards or shoulder pads. We are exposed, and we feel it. The balance beam is my friend, and the floor usually treats me well. I can manage vault, as scary as it is, but the uneven bars are my Kryptonite. Maybe it's the broken ribs I suffered years ago, or the countless bruises on my arms trying to catch a release move. I just can't get my hands to open to let go of the bar. I freeze. I know its normal to feel this way, it's nature's "fight or flight" instinct that is part of every animal's DNA. A gymnast needs to overcome nature itself to succeed. I still have fears, but I'm battling it out every day. If I can do this, I can do anything. I'm learning to control my fear, to push myself and be confident. I am currently committed to the University of Alaska Division 1 gymnastics team for the Fall 2025, majoring in kinesiology with the plan for post graduate study in sports medicine.

Student athletes are just different. Sure, we do the usual kid stuff like go to school and hang out with friends, but there is another side of our lives, one that is intense. We compete, we sacrifice, we push ourselves to the limit. My schedule is crazy. I wake up at 6 am, get to school early to volunteer with Associated Student Body and Student Government, then attend class. I have nearly all college AP and honors classes, because I’m competitive and those classes are the best. When school ends, my day is far from over. While most other students go home, I jump in the car and drive an hour to the gym, eating a quick meal on the way to get my energy level up. The car ride is where I mentally prepare. I need to focus, because I am a Level 10 Junior Olympic gymnast. There is no Level 11. Four hours a day, six days a week, and there is no off season. We learn new skills over the summer, perfect them in the Fall, compete the regular season into Spring. We travel all over the country to compete against the best. The season ends around April, just in time for final exams. Summer starts, and the cycle repeats. It is tough, most girls quit way before they get to this level. On Saturdays I get to gym early to help coach the little kids' classes. It's fun and reminds me to have fun during my own training. Strength, coordination and timing are everything. We push our bodies to the limits, doing unnatural things like twisting and turning in the air, balancing on a beam that is 4 feet above the ground and only 4 inches wide. Adding to this challenge is the fact that we are technically still just kids. Our bodies are growing and constantly changing, so we adapt. One small misstep can lead to injury. Ironically, it’s not the pain of injury that a gymnast fears, but the time away from training. It hurts watching your team compete from the sidelines. I have collected well over twenty different injuries during my fifteen years of being a gymnast. I’ve learned to understand my body and trust it; to form my own recovery plan that allows me to train, even when injured. I understand the importance of seeing doctors and giving my body time to recover, but it’s important to train when hurt, to strengthening around the injury so you come back quicker, maybe even stronger. An interesting side effect of my participation in competitive sports is that I have become fascinated with my bones, muscles, and joints. This interest has filtered into schoolwork as I now find myself with a passion for biology and learning about the human body. I want to stay connected to sports even when my competitive years are over. My dream is to help athletes, like me, find effective treatments for their injuries that take into account the specific needs of their sport. Going beyond that, I also want to focus on prevention. As a gymnast, I condition to not only get stronger, but to avoid injury. I plan to help heal young athletes and educate them how to avoid future injuries and excel in their sport post recovery. I am currently committed for the 2025 school year to the University of Alaska, Anchorage as a Division 1 Gymnast. My major is kinesiology, with a goal of post graduate specialization in sports medicine. Radiology is also an interest as it will give me a deeper understanding of the human body.

Student athletes are just different. Sure, we do the usual kid stuff like go to school and hang out with friends, but there is another side of our lives, one that is intense. We compete, we sacrifice, we push ourselves to the limit, physically and mentally. When school ends, my day is far from over. While most other students go home, I jump in the car and drive an hour to the gym, eating a quick meal on the way to get my energy level up. The car ride is where I mentally prepare. I need to focus, because I am a Level 10 Junior Olympic gymnast. There is no Level 11. It's mentally exhausting, and I cannot explain why I love it. Four hours a day, six days a week, and there is no off season. We learn new skills over the summer, perfect them in the Fall, compete the regular season into Spring. We travel all over the country to compete against the best. The season ends around April, just in time for final exams in school. Summer starts, and the cycle repeats. It is tough, most girls quit way before they get to this level. I love it. We push our bodies to the limit, twisting and turning in the air, balancing on a beam that is 4 feet above the ground and only 4 inches wide. Adding to this challenge is the fact that we are technically still just kids. Our bodies are growing and constantly changing, so we adapt. One small misstep can lead to injury. Ironically, it’s not the pain of injury that a gymnast fears, but the time away from training. It hurts watching your team compete from the sidelines. I’ve been there, it’s the worst. The stress of competition is overwhelming. We train all year for an event that lasts a few minutes, where a simple mistake can be the difference between winning and losing. When you train so hard you have callouses on your hands and need to ice your feet after every practice, the scores matter. A good score keeps you going, a bad score can be heartbreaking. Judges don’t award points for doing well, they score you by counting your mistakes. It's backwards, and stressful. Mental blocks are common. You train your body to do unnatural things, ignoring your body’s natural instinct of self-preservation, to stay out of harm. A gymnast pushes to the limit, both physically and mentally. Not sure why, but I love it. Most gymnasts suffer mental blocks at some point, and I am no exception. Truth is, I still have mental blocks on a regular basis. The balance beam is my friend, and the floor usually treats me well. I can manage vault, as scary as it sometimes is, but the uneven bars are my Kryptonite. Maybe it's the broken ribs I suffered a few years back, or the countless bruises on my arms trying to catch a release move. I just can't get my hands to open to let go of the bar. I freeze. I know its normal to feel this way, it's nature's "fight or flight" instinct that is part of every animal's DNA. We gymnasts need to overcome it to succeed. I've had several sports therapists and mental coaches work with me. Most have methods or techniques to use to trick your mind and condition it to overcome these natural fears. They don't work, but I'm still here, still battling it out every day. If I can do this, I can do anything. Despite the mental struggle, I love this sport.

I had a hamster named Baloo when I was little. I loved to watch her, and how she would spend her day. She had her little daily routine that she would repeat. I started to think about my daily life and the patterns I repeat, albeit, one with far more complexity. For my hamster, her life was sleep, eat, run, repeat. For me, my life has been sleep, eat, gymnastics, repeat. Ever since I was three, my life has been split in two. There is my gymnastics life, and there is my outside life. These two parts of me have been so reinforced in my head that I wouldn’t be myself if one part was missing. People have questioned why I spend almost 25 hours a week in the gym. They ask why I put myself through so much, and whenever I have a bad day in the gym, I find myself asking that same question. “Why do you do gymnastics?” My dad asks in hopes to inspire me after a bad practice. “Well, because I have to.” I’d reply back. I’ve always felt like I’ve had to do gymnastics, but not out of a sense of obligation, but pure passion. However, even after all the challenging practices over the years, I have never once thought of quitting the sport. My day actually begins at practice, and determines whether I go to sleep satisfied or not. I have been a competitive gymnast for as long as I can remember. Due to this, I have collected well over twenty different injuries in my life. As time went on though, I’ve learned to form my own recovery plan that allows me to still practice. I have also become very familiar with my bones, muscles, and joints. This translated over to school, and I now find myself having a huge passion for learning about the human body. The way your arm bends, why your leg moves the way it does, it’s all so fascinating. I have loved every biology class I’ve taken in high school, and I’ve never been more certain that it’s what I want to do in the future. My main goal is to help athletes, like me, find an effective treatment that takes into account the sport itself. While Gymnastics does mean a lot to me and has shaped my life in countless ways, I have found great interests in the academic world. In school I am part of the Associated Student Body Leadership Council at my school. Last year I took a real interest in helping plan school wide events. Last year I planned assemblies, announcements, and helped out with anything else the school needed. Now, this year I get a chance to help out even more as the head of the Student Government. I get even more opportunities as a leader, and I can’t wait to see what I’ll continue to contribute as this year finishes. Finally, outside of athletics and academics I have found a real interest in music. I have been drumming for eight years and have participated in several international competitions. I've also joined over twenty different bands that come together to practice and perform live shows. All of this shaped me into the person I am today. I want my skills I’ve acquired throughout my life to be recognized and used for something bigger.

“The MRI results came back; you tore your hamstring” my doctor said in a monotone voice. “You’re going to have to limit movement for about three months”. I wish I could say that I rarely went to the doctor for injuries, but that isn’t the case. I have actually torn my hamstring a total of four times in two years. Each time I visited the doctor they just told me the same thing, that I needed to take time off all physical activities. I can’t do that though. As a Junior Olympic, level 10 gymnast, “just” taking months off isn’t an option. Gymnastics is a vigorous sport that involves both mental and physical dedication. It requires year-round training, and having to take even two weeks off can be a major setback. I have been a competitive gymnast for as long as I can remember. I started this sport at the prime age of two, and ever since then my life has always been about this sport. Due to this, I have collected well over twenty different injuries in my life. As time went on though, I’ve learned to form my own recovery plan that allows me to still practice. Of course, I still understand the importance of seeing medical professionals, but it is almost equally as important that I learn to work around injuries, so I continue to improve as an athlete. Due to my history of sports injuries, I have become very familiar with my bones, muscles, and joints. This translated over to school, and I now find myself having a huge passion for learning about the human body. The way your arm bends, why your leg moves the way it does, it’s all so fascinating. I have loved every biology class I’ve taken in high school, and I’ve never been more certain that it’s what I want to do in the future. After I retire from gymnastics in a few years, I want to stay connected to the sport as much as possible. After all, I know what it’s like to be a competitive athlete looking for a good recovery plan that doesn’t involve having to take months off of your sport completely. My main goal is to help athletes, like me, find an effective treatment that takes into account the sport itself. I want these treatments to be very tailored for each athlete, focusing on each of their own specialized goals for the sport. Helping athletes is more than just finding a solution, it’s about the entire journey from first getting injured to being fully healed. As an athlete, I have been in and out of the doctors too many times to count. However, only a few doctors and therapists have actually taken the time to build a strong connection with me. So, even though I find the human body beyond interesting, I actually find this career path more propelling because of the ability to build connections with my future patients. Together, I will help anyone in need find a practical and efficient recovery plan. I think I have always known that I’ve wanted to go into the medical field. It just feels right. This scholarship will help me start my education journey and all together be a steppingstone to future success.

“The MRI results came back; you tore your hamstring” my doctor said in a monotone voice. “You’re going to have to limit movement for about three months”. I wish I could say that I rarely went to the doctor for injuries, but that isn’t the case. I have actually torn my hamstring a total of four times in two years. Each time I visited the doctor they just told me the same thing, that I needed to take time off all physical activities. I can’t do that though. As a Junior Olympic, level 10 gymnast, “just” taking months off isn’t an option. Gymnastics is a vigorous sport that involves both mental and physical dedication. It requires year-round training, and having to take even two weeks off can be a major setback. I have collected well over twenty different injuries during my fifteen years of being a gymnast. As time went on though, I’ve learned to form my own recovery plan that allows me to still practice. Of course, I still understand the importance of seeing medical professionals, but it is almost equally as important that I learn to work around injuries, so I continue to improve as an athlete. For example, a few years ago I was diagnosed with Osteochondritis Dissecans, a breaking of the cartilage in my elbow. It was a hard injury because of the long recovery time. However, I used to this time to build up my lower body strength, which I still use every day in my sport. In fact, many of my skills I learned during this time helped me get a place on a division 1 Gymnastics University Team! Due to my history of sports injuries, I have become very familiar with my bones, muscles, and joints. This translated over to school, and I now find myself having a huge passion for learning about the human body. The way your arm bends, why your leg moves the way it does, it’s all so fascinating. I have loved every biology class I’ve taken in high school, and I’ve never been more certain that it’s what I want to do in the future. After I retire from gymnastics in a few years, I want to stay connected to the sport as much as possible. After all, I know what it’s like to be a competitive athlete looking for a good recovery plan that doesn’t involve having to take months off of your sport completely. My main goal is to help athletes, like me, find an effective treatment that takes into account the sport itself. I want these treatments to be very tailored for each athlete, focusing on each of their own specialized goals for the sport. Helping athletes is more than just finding a solution, it’s about the entire journey from first getting injured to being fully healed. As an athlete, I have been in and out of the doctors too many times to count. However, only a few doctors and therapists have actually taken the time to build a strong connection with me. So, even though I find the human body beyond interesting, I actually find this career path more propelling because of the ability to build connections with my future patients. Together, I will help anyone in need find a practical and efficient recovery plan. This scholarship will help me start my education journey and all together be a steppingstone to future success.

“The MRI results came back; you tore your hamstring” my doctor said in a monotone voice. “You’re going to have to limit movement for about three months”. I wish I could say that I rarely went to the doctor for injuries, but that isn’t the case. I have actually torn my hamstring a total of four times in two years. Each time I visited the doctor they just told me the same thing, that I needed to take time off all physical activities. I can’t do that though. As a Junior Olympic, level 10 gymnast, “just” taking months off isn’t an option. Gymnastics is a vigorous sport that involves both mental and physical dedication. It requires year-round training, and having to take even two weeks off can be a major setback. I have been a competitive gymnast for as long as I can remember. I started this sport at the prime age of two, and ever since then my life has always been about this sport. Due to this, I have collected well over twenty different injuries in my life. As time went on though, I’ve learned to form my own recovery plan that allows me to still practice. Of course, I still understand the importance of seeing medical professionals, but it is almost equally as important that I learn to work around injuries, so I continue to improve as an athlete. Due to my history of sports injuries, I have become very familiar with my bones, muscles, and joints. This translated over to school, and I now find myself having a huge passion for learning about the human body. The way your arm bends, why your leg moves the way it does, it’s all so fascinating. I have loved every biology class I’ve taken in high school, and I’ve never been more certain that it’s what I want to do in the future. After I retire from gymnastics in a few years, I want to stay connected to the sport as much as possible. After all, I know what it’s like to be a competitive athlete looking for a good recovery plan that doesn’t involve having to take months off of your sport completely. My main goal is to help athletes, like me, find an effective treatment that takes into account the sport itself. I want these treatments to be very tailored for each athlete, focusing on each of their own specialized goals for the sport. Helping athletes is more than just finding a solution, it’s about the entire journey from first getting injured to being fully healed. As an athlete, I have been in and out of the doctors too many times to count. However, only a few doctors and therapists have actually taken the time to build a strong connection with me. So, even though I find the human body beyond interesting, I actually find this career path more propelling because of the ability to build connections with my future patients. Together, I will help anyone in need find a practical and efficient recovery plan. I think I have always known that I’ve wanted to go into the medical field. It just feels right.

“The MRI results came back; you tore your hamstring” my doctor said in a monotone voice. “You’re going to have to limit movement for about three months”. I wish I could say that I rarely went to the doctor for injuries, but that isn’t the case. I have actually torn my hamstring a total of four times in two years. Each time I visited the doctor they just told me the same thing, that I needed to take time off all physical activities. I can’t do that though. As a Junior Olympic, level 10 gymnast, “just” taking months off isn’t an option. Gymnastics is a vigorous sport that involves both mental and physical dedication. It requires year-round training, and having to take even two weeks off can be a major setback. I have collected well over twenty different injuries during my fifteen years of being a gymnast. As time went on though, I’ve learned to form my own recovery plan that allows me to still practice. Of course, I still understand the importance of seeing medical professionals, but it is almost equally as important that I learn to work around injuries, so I continue to improve as an athlete. For example, a few years ago I was diagnosed with Osteochondritis Dissecans, a breaking of the cartilage in my elbow. It was a hard injury because of the long recovery time. However, I used to this time to build up my lower body strength, which I still use every day in my sport. In fact, many of my skills I learned during this time helped me get a place on a division 1 Gymnastics University Team! Due to my history of sports injuries, I have become very familiar with my bones, muscles, and joints. This translated over to school, and I now find myself having a huge passion for learning about the human body. The way your arm bends, why your leg moves the way it does, it’s all so fascinating. I have loved every biology class I’ve taken in high school, and I’ve never been more certain that it’s what I want to do in the future. After I retire from gymnastics in a few years, I want to stay connected to the sport as much as possible. After all, I know what it’s like to be a competitive athlete looking for a good recovery plan that doesn’t involve having to take months off of your sport completely. My main goal is to help athletes, like me, find an effective treatment that takes into account the sport itself. I want these treatments to be very tailored for each athlete, focusing on each of their own specialized goals for the sport. Helping athletes is more than just finding a solution, it’s about the entire journey from first getting injured to being fully healed. As an athlete, I have been in and out of the doctors too many times to count. However, only a few doctors and therapists have actually taken the time to build a strong connection with me. So, even though I find the human body beyond interesting, I actually find this career path more propelling because of the ability to build connections with my future patients. Together, I will help anyone in need find a practical and efficient recovery plan.

There is something about Billie Eilish that makes her special. Many of my friends have teased me about how her music is “boring” and “sad”. However, for me, her music is anything but that. Her music fills me with calmness and ease. Whenever I am anxious, sad, happy, or honestly feeling any emotion at all, I put her whole Spotify playlist on shuffle. She was my top artist this year on my Spotify Wrapped, with a total of 30,000 minutes listened to. I don't want to say that I am obsessed, but I am. I went to her concert this year, and it was the best night of my life. I don't remember the last time I felt so many emotions in two hours. One moment I'm screaming my heart out, and the next I'm sitting silently, staring at her in awe. I like her for more than just her songs though. She has gone through so many experiences and she somehow finds a way to put that into words. She is such a relatable singer, and that's why I think her fan base has grown so much in the past year. It's very hard for me to pick just three songs, but if I had to choose it would be TV, Lovely, and Happier Than Ever. Those three songs are just breathtaking. Tv has to be one of my favorite songs of hers. The lyrics somehow perfectly showcase the toxicity a relationship can have. Actually, just this past year I got out of a very mentally abusive friendship. I think that’s why I connect with this song so much. It puts my feelings to words and it really helped me through the entire recovery process. The next song I chose was Lovely. That song is just amazing. It makes me feel something when I listen to it. Most of the time I’ll put it on through my headphones or blast it in the car, that's the only correct way to listen to it. Everything about that song makes me feel safe. It almost makes me feel like I'm escaping from the world for just a few minutes. The last song I chose was Happier Than Ever. If I'm being honest, her whole Happier Than Ever album is my favorite of hers. It was so hard to narrow it down to just one song, but I chose this one. This goes along with my reasoning for liking TV so much. It somehow puts all my anger and pent up emotions about that toxic relationship into words. I’m sure you get it now, but Billie Eilish has saved me. I love her so much that just writing this is bringing me to tears.

“The MRI results came back; you tore your hamstring” my doctor said in a monotone voice. “You’re going to have to limit movement for about three months”. I wish I could say that I rarely went to the doctor for injuries, but that isn’t the case. I have actually torn my hamstring a total of four times in two years. Each time I visited the doctor they just told me the same thing, that I needed to take time off all physical activities. I can’t do that though. As a Junior Olympic, level 10 gymnast, “just” taking months off isn’t an option. Gymnastics is a vigorous sport that involves both mental and physical dedication. It requires year-round training, and having to take even two weeks off can be a major setback. I have collected well over twenty different injuries during my fifteen years of being a gymnast. As time went on though, I’ve learned to form my own recovery plan that allows me to still practice. Of course, I still understand the importance of seeing medical professionals, but it is almost equally as important that I learn to work around injuries, so I continue to improve as an athlete. For example, a few years ago I was diagnosed with Osteochondritis Dissecans, a breaking of the cartilage in my elbow. It was a hard injury because of the long recovery time. However, I used to this time to build up my lower body strength, which I still use every day in my sport. In fact, many of my skills I learned during this time helped me get a place on a division 1 Gymnastics University Team! Due to my history of sports injuries, I have become very familiar with my bones, muscles, and joints. This translated over to school, and I now find myself having a huge passion for learning about the human body. The way your arm bends, why your leg moves the way it does, it’s all so fascinating. I have loved every biology class I’ve taken in high school, and I’ve never been more certain that it’s what I want to do in the future. After I retire from gymnastics in a few years, I want to stay connected to the sport as much as possible. After all, I know what it’s like to be a competitive athlete looking for a good recovery plan that doesn’t involve having to take months off of your sport completely. My main goal is to help athletes, like me, find an effective treatment that takes into account the sport itself. I want these treatments to be very tailored for each athlete, focusing on each of their own specialized goals for the sport. Helping athletes is more than just finding a solution, it’s about the entire journey from first getting injured to being fully healed. As an athlete, I have been in and out of the doctors too many times to count. However, only a few doctors and therapists have actually taken the time to build a strong connection with me. So, even though I find the human body beyond interesting, I actually find this career path more propelling because of the ability to build connections with my future patients. Together, I will help anyone in need find a practical and efficient recovery plan. This scholarship will help me start my education journey and all together be a steppingstone to future success.

“The MRI results came back; you tore your hamstring” my doctor said in a monotone voice. “You’re going to have to limit movement for about three months”. I wish I could say that I rarely went to the doctor for injuries, but that isn’t the case. I have actually torn my hamstring a total of four times in two years. Each time I visited the doctor they just told me the same thing, that I needed to take time off all physical activities. I can’t do that though. As a Junior Olympic, level 10 gymnast, “just” taking months off isn’t an option. Gymnastics is a vigorous sport that involves both mental and physical dedication. It requires year-round training, and having to take even two weeks off can be a major setback. I have collected well over twenty different injuries during my fifteen years of being a gymnast. As time went on though, I’ve learned to form my own recovery plan that allows me to still practice. Of course, I still understand the importance of seeing medical professionals, but it is almost equally as important that I learn to work around injuries, so I continue to improve as an athlete. For example, a few years ago I was diagnosed with Osteochondritis Dissecans, a breaking of the cartilage in my elbow. It was a hard injury because of the long recovery time. However, I used to this time to build up my lower body strength, which I still use every day in my sport. In fact, many of my skills I learned during this time helped me get a place on a division 1 Gymnastics University Team! Due to my history of sports injuries, I have become very familiar with my bones, muscles, and joints. This translated over to school, and I now find myself having a huge passion for learning about the human body. The way your arm bends, why your leg moves the way it does, it’s all so fascinating. I have loved every biology class I’ve taken in high school, and I’ve never been more certain that it’s what I want to do in the future. After I retire from gymnastics in a few years, I want to stay connected to the sport as much as possible. After all, I know what it’s like to be a competitive athlete looking for a good recovery plan that doesn’t involve having to take months off of your sport completely. My main goal is to help athletes, like me, find an effective treatment that takes into account the sport itself. I want these treatments to be very tailored for each athlete, focusing on each of their own specialized goals for the sport. Helping athletes is more than just finding a solution, it’s about the entire journey from first getting injured to being fully healed. As an athlete, I have been in and out of the doctors too many times to count. However, only a few doctors and therapists have actually taken the time to build a strong connection with me. So, even though I find the human body beyond interesting, I actually find this career path more propelling because of the ability to build connections with my future patients. Together, I will help anyone in need find a practical and efficient recovery plan.