I am currently a graduate student at the University of Dubuque, getting my master’s degree in sports marketing and management and continuing to throw for the Track and Field team with my extra year of eligibility. I am from LeClaire, Iowa where I attended Pleasant Valley High School and participated in Football, Basketball, and Track. It wasn’t until college that I learned about how being in great physical shape could have a positive impact on your mental health. Going into the 2022-2023 Track season I felt as though I was in the best physical shape of my life, and the numbers definingly began to show as we got deeper into the season. I was performing well each weekend, winning the weight throw and shot put during indoor conference, and qualified for both at the indoor national meet. During the indoor national meet, I eventually became an All-American in the shot put, finishing 7th place at the meet. After that, mentally I felt as though I could accomplish anything. During the outdoor Track and Field, I would go on to have the same success, as I won the shot put and hammer throw at the conference meet, became the Midwest Field Athlete of The Year and qualify in all three events for the outdoor national meet. But during the outdoor national meet I did not have the success I had hoped for. Unable to make finals in any of the events and eventually go home empty handed. It was one of the hardest times for me mentally and there were thoughts of just wanting to be done. But I knew that wasn’t me and I have worked hard every day since to improve who I am as a person, teammate, and a competitor.