Yasmine Mejia '21 Recruiting Profile

Making the Varsity Team, lettering as a freshman, and helping my team become District Champions are the highlights of my high school career as of now. I feel like running has really helped me grow as a person, student, daughter, and sister. Running provides a healthy, fun challenge which I greatly enjoy. I have learned that I can do anything I want.. as long as I work hard for it. I've also learned how far my mind and legs can take me. So far, my legs have taken me to the Junior Olympics for track and field three times and for cross country, three times. I have traveled as far as Sacramento, California and run in temperatures competitively as low as 42 degrees in Tallahassee, Florida.

I began running when I was around 10 years old.  I first started running as a creative outlet, but then my running started developing and I started running competitively. By running competitively, I was able to see what my body could do and how powerful it truly was. I began to see physical changes as well as changes in my time which was motivating to continue my running career. I admit that at first, it was a little difficult to balance my academic work and going to practice and meets every week. Since I'm in the Vanguard/GT/advanced course program, I am constantly challenged academically, and being on an actual team was something I had to learn to adjust myself to.  By middle school, I knew how to balance my school work and running, so I could have enough free time to myself.

My grandfather is one of my biggest inspirations for running.  In his home country, Ecuador, life was rough. He and his family lived a life full of challenges, and he risked his education to be able to help his family by getting a job at only 9 years of age, so he could help provide for his family and care for his younger siblings. When he was around 15, he became interested in running and a few years later, he became one of the national runners of Ecuador. My grandfather's story is so inspirational and reminds me to be grateful for what I have, to always work hard, and remember there will always be someone in the world working harder than you.

On the side of running and being an exemplary student, I have had positions at places in my community. In the summer of 2018, I volunteered as a Student Hero at the Houston Food Bank. I loved volunteering there and giving back to my community by providing meals and helping the workers at the food bank. This past summer of 2019, I joined the Zoo Crew program at the Houston Zoo. Due to the coronavirus and not being able to volunteer during the summer of 2020, I participated in the Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program, and am now a Girls Who Code Alumni. Also, due to my interest in the medical field, I have applied for multiple medical volunteer programs and am currently looking for internships. 

Considering my high focus level, work-ethic,  perseverance, character, and leadership skills, I believe I am capable of running at the college level. I am looking for a college that will be a perfect fit for me not only athletically, but also academically.