I first started my fitness journey at 8 years old when I joined karate. At the beginning of each class, we dedicated about 20 minutes to exercising at stretching to warm up for katas and self-defense. I quickly became obsessed with it and began to ask the head sensei if I could lead the group. From then on, he almost always assigned me without me even having to ask. He recognized my love for fitness as well as leadership from a very young age. A few years later, my father began his fitness journey; he was fed up with being overweight and feeling unhappy with himself. Working out together became a way for us to bond, and he pushed me to go another set or sprint to the finish. Little did I know that this would shape not only how I exercised, but the way I approached all difficulties going through life. I am now 19 years old and a freshman in college. This year, I am testing for my third-degree black belt in karate. I have completed many years of varsity sports and plan to continue them at a club level, and I have fallen in love with Crossfit. I have shifted my reasons for working out from a casual way to have fun to building muscle and getting strong. I also began to use it as a way to relieve my anxiety and stress from school. Unfortunately, I suffered an injury playing soccer my senior year of high school that caused me to be out of sports for the rest of the year. After over a year of imagining, physical therapy, and multiple surgeries to fix the torn ligament in my left foot, I am so close to being able to be active with relatively no pain. Being forced to rest and recover during that time had a much bigger impact on my mental health than I expected. I was devastated watching my muscles shrink and my cardio worsen after all the progress I had made. I was so jealous watching others be active and play sports while I was stuck on the couch for weeks at a time. It showed me just how important exercise is to me and the impact it has on my physical and mental health. Despite my injury, my father and my Sensei continue to push me to achieve my full potential and always give 100%. Their encouragement has gotten me through many workouts I didn’t want to finish, and those workouts have pulled me through some pretty tough times in my life. To me, fitness is a medication, a stress relief, a privilege, and I would not be the person I am today without it.

This is my 8-year-old long-haired miniature dachshund Quesadilla, or Quesa for short. While she may be small, she doesn't let her size stop her. Together, we ride snowmobiles, hunt for ruffed grouse, kayak, and do almost everything else in the Maine outdoors. Quesa is my best friend and has helped me through some pretty tough times. She also plays a major role in why I am going to school to be a veterinarian. This picture shows one of our adventures in a field of dandelions, some of my favorite flowers. Here's to many more adventures with my favorite girl!