"scholarship"

What High School did you attend: I went to Pike High School

What got you into running? I started running in sixth grade because I loved the team environment and how my hard work directly resulted in faster times.

How are you adjusting to College at Purdue? College is going well so far. It was definitely an adjustment, and I still feel like I have a lot to figure out but I am learning. I have already joined the run club and the Brain Exercise Initiative club.

Do you plan to continue to run in the future? Over the next few years, I plan to continue running because I always want it to play an important part in my life. I hope to continue
getting faster, while growing closer to my new team.

Katelin’s Essay:

When I was a 6th grader, I wanted to play softball for my school, but I only had two options for fall sports. The school permitted 6th graders to join the cross country team, or play tennis. My friend suggested I try running, so I decided to join the cross country team. I thought all people had a general understanding that running was awful, so I didn’t expect to like it, let alone be good at it. However, to date, joining the cross country team was one of the best decisions of my life. The team became my family, and I fell in love with the sport that hurts so much. I love that everyone around me is equally motivated to become faster and that my hard work has tangible results. It’s addicting. After my first season, I missed cross country so much I would lay awake at night thinking about racing again. This love for running drew me away from softball, and I haven’t looked back since.

I love the freedom I have during long runs, or the power and satisfaction I feel after workouts. Most of all, I love racing. I love feeling alive when I push my body to the limit, and I’m running solely on grit and determination. The sport is a release of negative energy for me, it takes away my headaches, and restores the sense of confidence and calm in my mind. Running helps me grow stronger physically and mentally, and it brings out the best version of myself. Running will always be a part of my life not just because it makes me happy, but because I still have many goals I want to accomplish. The longest run I have competed in is a 5k, but I want to eventually run a marathon, and compete in Ironman races. Running got me interested in the limits of my body, and I still have so much to give to the sport. I want to continue getting better just to prove to myself that I can. Even though I will not run on an official school team next year, I plan to join a run club because I want to continue racing.

It is hard to explain what exactly running means to me, because yes the sport hurts, and yes I go weeks without improvement, but still… my love for running grows everyday. When my time drops, it makes all the long and gruesome workouts worth it. Nothing else in this world makes me feel as happy and as powerful as running. I am grateful as a sixth grader I joined the cross country team, and I am forever thankful for my coaches and teammates who push me to be a better runner and the best person I can be. Without them, my love for running would not have grown to as big as it is now.

What High School did you attend: Roncalli High School

What got you into running? My older brother started running when he was in fourth grade, so I attended his meets with my family. After watching him, I decided that I also wanted to give the sport a try. The coach allowed me to attend practices as a second grader and run in the home meets, and I immediately fell in love with the sport. Since then, I have run both cross country and track.

How are you adjusting to College at Notre Dame? Despite college being a significant adjustment, I love Notre Dame! The school has so much to offer – a strong sense of community, long standing traditions, and top tier academics. I am very thankful to have this place as my second home. 

Do you plan to continue to run in the future? Through the excitement, as well as difficulties, that accompany transitioning to a new chapter of my life, I have been able to deal with the stressors and various aspects of college life through running. College is a heavy workload, and time management is important. I have made running a priority for me as it helps prepare me mentally for the day ahead as well as relieve stress. I plan to join the Notre Dame running club and continue running past my college years!

Ashley’s Essay:

The stadium is full, and I feel the crowd’s eyes on me. As the slight breeze swims through the hushed arena, I do a few warm-up strides.
The whistle is blown twice: “Sweats off!” the announcer yells. I feel my heart aggressively beat against the walls of my chest, and I get in the zone. I shake out my butterflies, take deep breaths, and look forward. It’s race time. “Runners, on your mark!” Once I hear the loud pop of the gun, my nerves dissipate, and there’s no time to think. Just run – setting my position, pumping my arms, quickening my cadence. I feel more comfortable as I go. I’m in my element. I’m home.

This feeling, unique to only cross country and track, is one I’ve experienced since I was a little girl. I remember the first time my grade school cross country coach was hesitant to let me, a tiny 7 year-old, compete in a 3k. He eventually gave in, and little did I know that this would only be the beginning of a lifelong journey that would help me discover who I am. The feeling of the wind whipping at your face, the click-clack of the spikes across the gravel, the pain that serves as motivation, the load cheers as you near the finish line- so many aspects of the sport that brings a distinct sense of peace and comfort.

Throughout my early running career, I suffered two stress fractures near my tibia, a stress fracture in my left foot, and was place in a boot two different times for several weeks. During my sophomore year, the impact of these injuries ballooned, and I missed significant portions of the seasons. My sophomore track season was canceled due to COVID, and I contracted COVID mid-way through my junior year. My rapid heartbeat resulted in a four-month setback of no training. After two EKG’s, an echocardiogram, and a stress test, I was finally cleared by my cardiologist.

Working through these setbacks, i began to realize the impact running has had on me since I was a little girl. Throughout the years, it’s become my go-to – my way of escaping the craziness of everyday life. When I found out my best friend was diagnosed with brain cancer, and would be traveling out of state and missing school to get the treatment needed, I was scared. Not knowing where to turn, I ran more than I imagined in the weeks following her diagnosis. Later that same year, my grandpa only had a few days left to live, and I never got to say my final goodbye. After losing him, I felt alone and helpless. Once again, running was my fallback, giving me a sense of peace that I so desperately needed. I am blessed to have this sport as my lifeline – it has become a crucial aspect of who I am, and I’m forever grateful for the endless laughter, support, and pure happiness it has brought me over the last 11 years.

What High School did you attend: I went to Pike High School

What got you into running? I started running when I was little. Knowing I’m not from here I got into running as a competitive sport and I liked it but not just because I like winning but also because I feel free when I run and it all started back in my hometown Lagos, Nigeria.

How are you adjusting to College at IUPUI? College is going pretty well actually, there are times when things get hard but I just watch my time management and ask for help when needed.

Do you plan to continue to run in the future? Honestly I don’t think I’ll stop running any time soon because it’s like therapy to me and it’ll also be great for me because I might join the military and we all know they run a lot so just that alone will be a big part of my life.

Daniel’s Essay:

I was young, ambitious, and crazy about being the best and fastest in school. You see that’s the mentality of most people from where I’m from. You’re probably saying what I am talking about is every kid’s dream but it’s not that easy. I’m not from the United States. Originally, I was born and raised in the country Nigeria and I recently moved to the United States five years ago.

Before I came here, everything in that country was a competition and we took running way too seriously. I have worked with a lot of people and have been running since I started school when I was young. Running for me is like a way to get my mind off things and for the fun of it. I also love running because I feel free and it makes me feel like I can do anything I set my mind on and untouchable. I remember one day that I felt mad at myself because I didn’t win a race, I beat myself up because I lost and came in second place. After that day, I worked so hard and practiced every time so I wouldn’t be second anymore. I’m a trackstar still now and I’ve met some pretty fast people but with time and me all grown up, I realized winning a race doesn’t define everything and it’s okay to come in second place too. After all my hard and extreme practices, I finally became fast and beat the boy that me and when I did, I felt victorious but at the same time I didn’t really feel anything because we were close friends and we should have been working hard and elevating each other up together.

I said all that because we lost touch after elementary school in Nigeria and I loved running because of him pushing me to be good and beter than him. So when I run now, I believe whatever I put my mind into is do-able and achievable and that’s something that I’ll never forget. Running also gets things off my mind a lot because then I am in my zone and I’ve learned a lot from the clarity I get when I am running. The way I take my mind off things is by running and even on days that it’s bad outside, I have a treadmill at home. Running will definitely impact my future because I plan on doing track in college and might also maybe join the military and I know they run a lot there because I’m the commanding officer for JROTC at my high school and we’ve been taught all these and are mentally ready to join for the people only interested in joining. Also like I said before, running will impact my future because I see my path or way more clearly and feel like I can achieve what I put my mind to while running. And I always make sure to remember it’s not always about winning.