Be comfortable with being uncomfortable. 

I’ve heard this from my track coaches, and it stuck. 

Even when it seemed complicated or awkward, they said to put in the work to become a better athlete.

I took this advice not only on the track but in the classroom, as well.

I typically keep to myself in class, listen to my music and do my work. 

Frankly, I don’t like asking for help. It’s embarrassing when your teacher or coach has taught you something multiple times, yet you still don’t understand it.

There are teachers and coaches who I am comfortable asking for help. However, I’ve always liked doing things on my own. 

Sometimes it helps to watch and observe other students to get a better understanding of how to do something.  

This is one of the strategies for how I learn.

I’m in Student Council, National Arts Honors Society, Newspaper and track. These activities have multiple moving parts, and balancing them all can be challenging.

In these activities, everyone has a part or job. There is constant collaboration and teamwork.

Leadership also plays a vital role. 

Taking on a leadership role is hard work and can be uncomfortable. 

I’ve looked up to many students and athletes that have shown great leadership.

For example when I went to Washburn University for the Leadership Challenge Event, I learned so much about leadership and teamwork in just 48 hours. 

Not only did I learn skills from the actual event but I also learned from my teammates – junior Abby Kuhn and seniors Thu Lee, Lynn Tran and Emily Bui.

We went through a whole scenario that had so many moving parts. It was stressful but our communication and collaboration was effective. 

Through the Leadership Challenge Event, I was faced with uncomfortable situations – my teammates and I had only 8-10 hours to solve a city planning challenge. 

I looked up to my teammates who had past experience and I paid close attention to how they were organized and communicating. 

It’s important to know what your strengths and weaknesses are to fully understand how you can use them effectively. 

This goes for the classroom, the field, the court or even at your job. 

Knowing who you are completely is what truly matters.