Samantha Wu '20 Recruiting Profile

Coachable, ambitious, up-lifting. These are a few traits I value most in myself and in my teammates. I’ve found that in pursuing these higher standards, I’ve actually gain more than I set out for. I’ve learned to be responsive to advice and set goals, but I’ve also discovered accountability, relationship, and the exhilarating feeling of being a part of something huge. Thanks to all the ups and downs I’ve conquered in my past 7 years of competing, I’ve found running to be a core part of my being that I can’t imagine my life without.

The most intriguing self discoveries and life changing realizations stem from running. I believe that even strong individual athletes need a supportive team behind them to perform their best. I've seen it proven over and over again. That's why I plan Cross Country team bondings, post-Track-meet dinners, reach out to the incoming freshmen, and constantly check up on all of my runner teammates that are like children to me. I extend beyond what is required of me to build up a team of motivated athletes that hold each other accountable and cheer each other on because that is the change I wanted to see in my school sports teams. Also, constantly being aware of how I think, learn, and perform, has helped me excel in academics as well. I find myself constantly revising and editing my peers' essays, tutoring them on confusing math and chemistry concepts, and exploring new ways to teach information in a way that is easy to understand. I also apply this approach to coaching underclassmen to think positively, reduce performance stress, and maintain their love for running. I am ambitiously pursuing a future in medicine and surgery and simultaneously striving to be the best athlete I can be by maintaining a healthy balanced lifestyle. I generally stay with healthier food options, I always cool down, stretch, roll, and ice when I need it, I regularly sleep eight hours, and I always seek more ways to keep myself in top condition because I want to present the world with my best self. Because I diligently try to maintain an open perspective about everything, I am very coachable and open to advice, I am willing to put in the work to succeed, and I constantly set short term and long term goals for myself. . For me, running for fun is time to process my goals and aspirations, running with my team is sharing my love for sports and inspiring my teammates to pursue their best self, running a race is the opportunity to show the rest of the world what a strong community, rooted passion, and headstrong determination has made me.