I will never forget the rush of satisfaction and success as I broke through the tape of the finish line at the acclaimed Simplot Games in Pocatello, Idaho. After stumbling off the track, doubled over and panting, my relay teammates rushed toward me, grabbing my hands and pulling me up, shouting, “we won, we won!” I will never forget my heart sinking to my toes faster than I could ever sprint as I caught view of the big screen flashing �...

Cooking is an enjoyable way for me to be creative and innovative outside the classroom setting. As I became a competitive high school athlete, I noticed a direct correlation between the foods I ate and how I felt during performance. Once I learned the hard way not to underestimate the power of my lunch before a race, I became fascinated with fueling my body with food that would optimize my performance and mood. The idea that I had control over...

Dear Future Roommate, I hope you like sticky notes, because our future dorm room will be covered in them. I am one of those uber-organized people. I use sticky notes for everything – lists, deadlines, bookmarks, important dates, quotes I want to remember, and most importantly, my goals. This is a habit I’ve picked up from playing sports, where I’ve learned that visualization is one of the crucial factors for success. Seeing a small pink sticky note on my...

I shake off the out-of-breath feeling and scribble my name and hometown on the summit register, surrounded by an indescribable and unobstructed view of the valley below. I’m totally exhausted but mostly content, with a turkey and cheese sandwich in hand that, as my grandfather used to say, wouldn’t taste very good in your kitchen at home, but tastes out-of-this-world at 14,000 feet. My day started at 6:00 a.m., eight miles earlier, but being on the summit always makes...