Figure Skating (2022 - 2025)

Video Essay by Me, 2024

Recognition: 

  • Moves in the Field Pre-Preliminary Certificate by U.S. Figure Skating (2024)

  • Moves in the Field Preliminary Certificate by U.S. Figure Skating (2024)

I started skating at my local rink in 2022, when my friend had invited me to go skating with her. I was so excited about the sport then, how fun it seemed and how I felt like I could progress quickly within it. Having had figure skating introduced to me from a young age from my mother, who had skated when she was young, I felt like I had a connection.

While I had just been practicing casually at the public sessions then, I started to become more determined to improve, prompting me to start skating early in the morning in the freestyle sessions. I would wake up at 4:00, skate from 5:30 to 7:00, and go to school. This became a regular routine for the rest of the school year from 2023.

And now, since then, I have been skating in the early-morning sessions anywhere from an hour to two hours, and trying to improve. I joined the Peninsula Skating Club (my local club) and have loved skating for a while.

Cross Country (2023 - 2025)

Awards:

  • Most Improved Award (2024)

  • Girls 1st Place; Bay Area Christian Athletic League (2024)

  • Girls 1st Place; Bay Area Christian Athletic League (2023)

Role: Team Member, Campbell Christian School Athletics (2024 - 2025)

Featured at: The Campbell Press October 2023

In the 2023~2024 athletic year, I had my first team sport experience with the Co-Ed Cross Country team at my school. While before I had been very un-athletic and the slowest on the team, in 2023, I was suddenly able to run better, grow stronger, and become more active. My peers and coaches in the cross country team were some of the most encouraging people ever, and it was amazing to watch each other grow throughout the season.

At the end, we even had a ceremony where we put everything we liked about each other in a slide show! Eventually, the girls were able to secure a first-place position in our Bay Area Christian Athletic League, and made it on our local newspaper for our hard work. This experience went on to be the doorway to my future athletic passions, inspiring me to run more often and making me want to pursue cross country.

It felt amazing to be part of a team, and I, who had always been too withdrawn to participate in sports, found why my athletic friends had valued the team experience so much. I was able to have a group of people who supported me and worked to improve with me.

In the 2024~2025 athletic year, I participated in my school’s cross country team again in the fall season. 

Though I had repeatedly placed around 10th in our team, I began to improve myself—observing proper form and coaching myself to run more comfortably and faster.

Eventually, in a race where almost all our top finishers were away, I was able to place 3rd in our team, and bring home the trophy.

Once again, the girls were able to secure a first-place position in the Bay Area Christian Athletic League, for the fourth year in a row.

When the time came for the ending ceremony, there were four awards awarded out of 32 runners. There, I had the honor of receiving “Most Improved”!

Running (2023 - 2025)

Participation: 

  • The Berkeley Half Marathon 5K (2024) 

  • The SF Aloha Run for Peace 5k (2024)

After my introduction to running in my school’s cross country team, I had so many positivity associated with it and I knew that I did have some ability in the sport. And so, I started running in my own time–early in the morning, or late at night.

In every quick step I ran, I could hear the encouraging voices of my peers and my coaches in my head. Even through the pain in my legs, lungs, core, and throat, I still loved the feeling of the cool air rushing by, my surroundings disappearing behind me. When I ran, I didn’t have any other thoughts occupying my head. My stress started to decrease, and my overall health soared.

After every run, I felt like I was on top of the world. And this pattern, that I had started after my cross country season, has led me to realize that there was something that I enjoyed doing, and something I want to continue.

So, I found running events that interested me, and found a determination to continue. I have continued to run on days that I don’t skate, and find it to be one of my favorite things to do!

Girl’s Volleyball (2024)

Award: 

  • Girls 1st Place; Bay Area Christian Athletic League (2024)

Role: Practice Team, Campbell Christian School Athletics (2024)

Featured at: The Campbell Press June 2024

In spring of 2024, I participated as a practice player (B team) in my school’s volleyball team. For the first time in five years, Campbell Christian School was able to earn first place in our entire Christian league in the Bay Area. It was my first time playing a cut-sport, and it was very exciting to play with and experience the sport with my team, who were nothing but kind and uplifting. I was able to have the honor of participate in 9 out of 11 games that we had, and cheer the starting players on during their matches.

We all encouraged each other throughout every practice or game, and cheered for each teammate no matter how skilled at the sport they were. Eventually, we were able to make it to the first page of our local newspaper with our victory.

With this experience, I realized that I had finally broken out of my old attitude that was afraid of trying out for things or doing unfamiliar tasks, as I had met so many people that were truly encouraging and who wanted the best for me.