In high school, from 2020 to 2024, I was part of the wrestling team at Grand Prairie. I loved the sport, but during my sophomore and junior years, I made some poor choices that led to missing half of each season. Wrestling, something I was passionate about, became harder to pursue as I had to deal with the consequences of my actions.

My senior year wasn’t any easier. Early in the season, I let my emotions get the best of me and ended up punching a pole, which caused me to miss even more time on the mat. The hardest part of all this wasn’t just missing the sport, though—it was the damage I did to my relationships. My coach, my parents, and my family had all trusted me, and I felt like I had let them down. Rebuilding that trust became one of the toughest challenges I’ve ever faced.

By the end of my senior year, however, I was given an unexpected opportunity to wrestle for Northern Oklahoma College. It was a second chance, one that I didn’t take lightly. I made the decision to reinvent myself, to grow from the mistakes I had made, and to absorb all the lessons that would help me move forward, both in wrestling and in life.

Now, I’m attending classes and practice at Northern Oklahoma College, focused on becoming the best version of myself. Every day, I push myself to be better, not just as an athlete, but as a person, determined to make the most of this opportunity.