I am determined to obtain a degree in Exercise Science with a minor in Sports Marketing; my long-term goal is to open an Outpatient Care Center.

The first half of my first year running, was just me complaining about why I am the one getting lapped and why I cannot be as good as other people within my sport. Once the second half of the season came around, I purely focused and changed my mentality. I figured out that complaining was going to do nothing good for me and if I wanted to be respected on the team, and to respect myself as an athlete, I would have to try harder and put more effort into what I was doing. My first step towards improving my mentality was figuring out, why I wanted to run and what my end goal for the season would be. I set my goal to drop my record down by at least five minutes. Therefore, during practice, I would dismiss what others were doing and focus on my running technique and my breathing. By the end of the season, my record dropped by four minutes. Even though I did not reach my goal, I enjoyed that year because it built the foundation in me to believe in myself and it showed me what was needed to improve. By my second season, I knew my goal and focus for the season. My goal was to now take seven minutes off my personal record. My focus was not to worry about where I would place; I would just have to beat myself. The goal became not to just drop seven minutes but to constantly work towards beating myself., Throughout every race that season I would try and beat me from the last race. Even though sometimes I would not win the race; I would use the loss as a learning experience to motivate me to be better the next race. That same summer before my third season I thought about what could really boost me above the rest and get me ahead of the competition. I decided to start working out in the off-season on top of doing summer running. My third season was one of my best seasons. I started the year hot and on the first meet I shattered my old record by four minutes. I began to see that all my hard work had started to pay off. By the middle of the season, I had broken my record by well over ten minutes, By the end of the season I had cut my old record by twenty minutes. I was awarded the medal for the Most Improved Runner among my teammates. Now I am in my fourth season of cross country working hard and continuing to better my race. Cross Country Training has taught me that through perseverance, disciple, hard work and focus, you can reach any goal you set for yourself. As I finish my race, I now celebrate every milestone knowing that I am only competing with myself to be the best person, athlete, and teammate that I can be. It comes full circle when friends and family share that I have also inspired them to change their mentality to be the best version of themselves.