“I initially got into gymnastics when my mom put me in “Mommy and Me” classes since I was a very energetic kid. I really started committing to it when I entered high school, since I knew there was no going back, otherwise I would have wasted all my life just to do nothing with that skill.
Despite gymnastics being an independent sport, we still have a team. We like to help each other out, even though we individually win, and all become better competitors.
Getting recruited was a pretty long process. I started after sophomore year, and emailed a bunch of college coaches. Some of them would respond, then you would call them, and they would get to know you. Recruiters would ask about my personal life, but mainly what I could do in gymnastics.
Before I got recruited, it was always something that was on my mind. For example, wondering if I was going to get recruited, and thinking I would try harder to make it there.
The key figures in this process were one of my club coaches and my friends, who all helped me throughout. My coaches helped me get better performance-wise so I could stand out more, and they were very empathetic throughout the process, because they know it’s long. I also had a college counselor.
Some of my highlights include when I qualified nationally, which really helped my recruitment process, since it made colleges want me more. Additionally, just getting recruited was a really good moment.
The toughest part is trusting yourself and continuing to email different colleges and waiting for them to respond. It was really difficult to be patient. If you’re really into a sport, I would definitely recommend going for recruitment, but it’s pretty hard and can be difficult on your mental health.
UC Davis really drew me in because it was really nice when I visited. Especially since you can bike there, it felt like a nice, warm community. I really think the vibe is great, and there’s a flea market on the weekends, which I’m really interested in. Looking forward, I’m excited for the community at Davis, getting to compete for a college, and overall having fun there.”
