Sports? Yes, and lots of them.

My journey with recreation began at five years old, when my mom signed me up for ballet. I wasn’t a fan of the leotards or the slippers, but I loved moving my body—and that was the point. Soon after came peewee soccer, with bright jerseys and participation trophies, then swim lessons. I was a cautious kid and terrified of the water, but after months of practice, I no longer needed floaties or a kickboard.

Next came tennis. I liked the skorts and fluffy pink wristbands, and I eventually got used to the high-speed serves flying at me—though not without a few bruises. Basketball followed, played after school at a YMCA class, and then volleyball entered my life. A coach once told me I was uncoordinated, but after two years of Club training, I was one of only three sophomores to make my high school’s varsity team. Volleyball quickly became my favorite sport. In the off-season, I ran track—competing in the 4x4, 100-meter sprint, and long jump to stay in shape for volleyball season.

Softball made a brief appearance in middle school, but baseball was more my brother’s game—though I’ll always be an LA Dodgers fan (especially for the footlong hotdogs at games). In college, I kept playing volleyball and added rowing and climbing to my mix of sports. Rowing was intense—practice started at 5 AM—but it was worth it to watch the sun rise over the water. Climbing, though, became my main sport. I started at my university’s rock wall, later working there, then coaching at a larger facility nearby. Climbing opened the door to a more outdoorsy, camp-filled life, and I haven’t looked back since.

Since then, I’ve dabbled in golf (too slow-paced for me—but I’ll always say yes to mini golf), and more recently tried lacrosse, where I enjoyed the crossover skills from baseball. Most recently, I’ve taken up snowboarding. I promised myself I’d try both skiing and snowboarding, and I’ve loved snowboarding—it’s been a great season, capped off with a blue run down Monarch Mountain.

Now living in Colorado, I’ve got rafting trips planned in Salida and I’m looking into adopting a used gravel bike.

Recreation has never been just a hobby—it’s a deep-rooted part of who I am. Movement, community, and play are essential to a well-rounded life, and I feel incredibly lucky to have explored so many forms of physical activity. What excites me most is the opportunity to now build my work around those values—fostering recreational opportunities that empower and energize others, just as they’ve always done for me.