Graduated from WashU and back to Windsurfing
Hello all!! I know it’s been a long time since I’ve spoken on here, so I have a lot of exciting updates. The last post in my blog was my reflections on getting second at Trials in early 2024- a time of both immense accomplishment, immense disappointment, and immense transition. Now, a year and a half later, I have graduated from college and potentially more exciting, began my campaign towards the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Only three days after Trials ended, I returned to WashU for what would be my junior spring. I buckled down that semester, taking extra classes to catch up from my year away campaigning so I could graduate on time with my class. I still rowed but school was certainly my number one priority. While it was great to be back at school with some of my best friends, I missed windsurfing so much. I was still heartbroken over my journey being cut just short of making it to the Olympic Games, which only deepened my resolve to finish school and return to windsurfing.
After the conclusion of the Spring semester, I began taking summer classes at WashU. I took three courses that were necessary to graduate. Honestly, the summer was my first break since Trials ended. I felt like I had a moment to breathe and had so much fun. I was healing from my loss at Trials and continuing the transition from heartbreak to determination to succeed. At the end of the summer, I watched the Olympics on TV from St. Louis. Luckily, I was finally in a good place to watch eagerly and cheer on the entire US Sailing Team. I was able to watch my good friend Noah compete in the iQFOiL medal race and watch the 49er Men’s team win bronze. I was able to visualize where I wanted to be in four years. Not only at the Olympics but also fighting for a medal.
The fall semester at WashU brought lots more rowing and school. Thanks to my summer classes, I was able to take a normal courseload which was very welcomed. This was especially helpful as I took on the role of President for the rowing team. This role was wonderful and pushed my leadership, organization, and time management to their maxes. In the fall I was able to attend the Head of the Charles regatta in Boston for my second time where we finished in WashU’s best position ever at the biggest regatta in the country. But perhaps my proudest accomplishment of the fall was winning the Women’s Collegiate Points trophy at the Head of the Hooch as it illustrated the success of the entire team; from our newest rowers to seasoned veterans.
If I had to summarize the four terms I completed at WashU after Trials with a single word, then junior spring would be school, summer would be rest, senior fall would be rowing, and senior spring would be friends. My senior spring was filled with some of the best memories of my life with some of my favorite people. From weekly trivia (which we finally tied for first in a round by the end of the semester!) to second workouts with rowing teammates, I truly savored every moment I had left at WashU. Now this doesn’t mean that the other three words went out the window (well maybe rest lol!), school and rowing remained crucial aspects of my life. The rowing my last semester was the best of my college career. I was finally able to race in a competitive 8+ and we finished 4th at our Nationals. Now 4th might not seem too impressive, but it was the first time WashU ever even had an 8+ race at the regatta let alone be in medal contention. I was named to the ACRA First All-American 8+ and awarded the W. Alfred Hayes Award for Senior Athlete Leadership at WashU. The rowing team was like a family at WashU and gave me so much more than athletics and for that I will be forever grateful.
Ultimately, I finished my Physics major and my Environmental Studies minor and earned college distinction. Maybe it is self-involved to believe it was some sort of fate, but WashU’s commencement speaker was Simone Biles. Listening to one of the best athletes of our time speak about her journey and relationship with the Olympics felt like the perfect moment of transition for me as I left academics to return to windsurfing full-time.
Now, I have indeed been windsurfing full-time for a month. I have temporarily moved to Long Beach, California for a summer of training and have been shaking off a year and a half of rust. I’ve loved getting back to thinking about the minute details of whether your foot needs to be shifted an inch further or your knees a few degrees more bent. I’ve loved chasing the goals of going just a bit faster every day. I’ve loved getting back to chasing my dream of going to the Olympics.
Thank you so much for supporting last campaign and I hope you follow along on this one as well. I will be sending more information out shortly about my future plans and how you can help me out.
