At the beginning of the pandemic, it was hard to adjust to training without having any competition. The pandemic definitely shifted my daily routine and affected my motivation, along with not being able to compete. I also faced quite a setback due to an injury during the summer as I had to stop my training completely. In addition to the stress of the pandemic, I was under a lot of pressure to recover while taking my classes and working two jobs. The ambiguity of not knowing when we were going to be able to compete again contributed to the pressure I was under. Nonetheless, I am grateful for the challenges I faced throughout the pandemic. What I have learned in training this past year is that nothing in life is certain, nothing can be taken for granted, and everything is temporary. I am definitely a lot stronger mentally and physically, and as an athlete today and I am looking forward to having a season with competition.

Share your overall experience at GCC

Looking back over the last few months at Glendale, I wish I knew at the time I was experiencing my last days on campus; nonetheless, my experience at GCC has been amazing on campus and remotely. I've had the opportunity to meet wonderful and friendly people like professors, coaches, staff, classmates, and teammates. The memories I've made at GCC have been unforgettable. One specific memory I will always carry with me is winning the State Championships for Cross Country with my team. Throughout my journey, I've had the opportunity and privilege to get help and guidance from professors, counselors, and other staff. This has helped me immensely in the classroom and in my personal life. I've grown not only as a student but also as an athlete. For this, I would like to thank Coach Lopez for allowing me to be part of the GCC Women's Cross Country and Track teams. Thanks to him, I was able to push past my limits and achieve far beyond what I thought I was capable of. Moreover, I am so grateful for his continuous faith in me as a student-athlete. Thank you, Coach Lopez, for inspiring me to always work hard, for encouraging me, and for investing in the athlete I am today. I would also like to thank Coach Tomas, Coach Anthony, and Coach Matthew for being a huge support as well during workouts and competitions. I am extremely grateful for the opportunities I've been given at GCC as it has prepared me for my next chapter. I'm so excited to transfer to Cal State Long Beach and continue growing as a student-athlete.