Personal Statement
Rowing has taught me the importance of teamwork, discipline, dedication and grit. It has changed my life and I am grateful for the sport, for the friendships I have forged, and for my rowing club, Marin Rowing Association.
Rowing is a unique sport and I love it for a few reasons. To start off with, there is an intensity that you will not find in any other sport. As juniors, we push ourselves harder than anyone I know outside of rowing. I find it hard to explain how hard we push ourselves, and how difficult our workouts are to non-rowers. There is a determination and mindset that I have never found anywhere else. Rowers are some of the most committed athletes I have ever known. You row in the rain, on freezing mornings and into the dark winter nights. You work through holidays and school breaks. You put everything aside and work through the pain and exhaustion until you can’t push yourself any more, and then you push yourself even harder. It is a sport that you never miss practice for because you know you will be missing something important. Practice is at least 15-16 hours a week at the boathouse, on top of a rigorous academic schedule and additional independent workouts on the weekends. Rowing has taught me so much about commitment, persistence and integrity.
I also love the comradery and team spirit. When you are in a boat with 7 other rowers and a cox and you are all working together towards a shared goal, there is nothing more exhilarating. My team mates have become my closest friends. I have learned to rely on them both inside and outside of the boathouse. We have a shared drive and focus. Rowing has really taught me the importance of hard work and perseverance. With the will to succeed and with a lot of hard work and determination I have seen myself improve as an athlete and as a person.
Rowing is a sport I wIll have with me always. I would love to row in college and I will continue to work hard to lower my erg scores and win more races as we move into our spring season with excitement and determination.
