I am a sophomore at the University of Dubuque, and I’m coming into my second year of college with the same two huge goals I’ve had from the beginning: becoming a national wrestling champion and becoming an airline pilot. After everything I experienced during my freshman year, those goals are still stronger than ever. I’ve learned a lot about myself, what it takes to succeed, and how much work I’m willing to put in to reach my goals. Wrestling has continued to shape me as a person. It has taught me sacrifice, discipline, toughness, and how to keep pushing when things don’t go my way. Wrestling has also shown me how important mental health is. The pressure, weight cuts, competition, and expectations can take a toll mentally as well as physically. I’ve learned that you can’t be your best physically if you aren’t taking care of yourself mentally. Being able to recognize when you need help, lean on the people around you, and keep a positive mindset is a huge part of becoming the person and athlete I want to be. At the same time, I’m continuing to chase my dream of becoming a commercial pilot. My first year in the flight program gave me the opportunity to start turning that dream into a reality. Wrestling and flying may seem completely different, but they both require focus, confidence, discipline, precision, and control. Both have taught me that you have to stay calm under pressure and trust the work you’ve put in. My parents continue to be some of my biggest supporters. They have made countless sacrifices for me and my siblings so that we can chase our goals and have opportunities to succeed. Their support motivates me to keep working hard and make the most of every opportunity I have. I know there will be ups and downs throughout this journey, but I also know I don’t have to go through them alone. Leaning on my family, teammates, coaches, friends, and other supporters is something I’ve learned is extremely important. This is only my second year, and I know I still have a long way to go. I’m working every day to become a better wrestler, a better student, a better pilot, and a better person. My goal is to earn a national title, represent the University of Dubuque to the best of my ability, become a commercial airline pilot, and inspire other people to chase their own goals no matter how big they may seem.
