I’ve been an athlete since I was little. I’ve tried just about every sport, but skiing and tennis are the ones that stuck. I started skiing when I was four. Some of my favorite memories are of going to the mountain with my dad. I remember sitting in the back seat in a fort made from his jackets, asking him why the rain made noise. Then we drove under a bridge, and I thought he made the rain stop just for me. Now, I ski almost every Saturday and Sunday when the season is open. This year I only got 35 days, which is less than usual, but I still made it a priority.
When I was thirteen I joined free-ride, which is a ski club where we hike and go off trail. however, there were very few other girls all of who were in other groups. I was the slowest in the group of boys and they left me behind even though most of the time I was only 30 seconds behind. My coach even started leaving me to o with them. I wanted to quit, but I didn't I worked harder and by the end a won a race. the next year I did pick a new team and new coaches who helped me grow.
All my friends wanted me to join the tennis team in high school, but I didn’t until junior year. I thought I didn’t have time. I was already balancing skiing, five high school classes, three online college classes every quarter, tutoring my siblings, and doing chores and errands for my family. But I wanted to spend time with my friends, so I joined and I’m so glad I did. It helped me connect with people, grow my confidence, and learn how much I can actually handle.
At first, I didn’t think I belonged. The tennis team wasn’t treated the same as the boys' team. Hardly anyone came to watch our matches. Our parents showed up, sometimes, and a teacher once a year. while the one one in my school cared about the tennis teams at all, the boys team always got more people. My last tennis match was against the same school my first one did. The first time, the other team was rude and we lost. But the last time, the girls were kind, fun to play with and we won. Even though I was just there for fun I was glad to win. At the end the other team smiled and hugged us. It felt like a full-circle moment, the first year I felt alone but by the end I felt like I had grown.
Balancing sports and life has made me stronger. I’ve learned that I can’t do everything perfectly, but I can still show up, try my best, and learn new things every time. Being a girl in sports means sometimes being overlooked, but it also means pushing forward anyway. I’ve learned to do hard things. I’ve kept a 3.9 GPA while earning 95 college credits which high school classes. I’ve found time for skiing, tennis, school, and helping my family. I’ve also learned to make time for things that make me happy.
I plan on another 8 years of school to get my DVM. I know it will take a lot more work but sports have taught me discipline, persistence, and how to stay motivated even when things are tough. That’s something I’ll take with me into college and after.