When I was applying to colleges my senior year of high school, my primary focus was academics rather than athletics. I wanted to have the opportunity to prioritize school and compete in collegiate athletics if possible. For me, having the chance to run was a bonus rather than an expectation. What drew me to apply to Juniata College was their academics, but what ultimately made me decide to attend was the team.
When I visited Juniata for the first time, I was able to meet with Coach Cutright and have lunch with the cross-country team. From the short visit, I felt a great sense of community. From that first meeting, Coach Cutright developed a plan for me to succeed in the program, even without my decision to attend. He spoke about how although the team was small, the program produces a number of elite athletes year after year. I knew from how he talked about the team that he was committed to helping his athletes grow.
When I first entered the program, I underestimated the intensity of collegiate athletics. During my first year of collegiate running, I had a hard time adjusting to an increase in mileage, intense workouts, and new race distances. After my first season of cross country, I felt discouraged in my abilities. Despite this, my new teammates and coach continued to believe in me and pushed me to become a better runner throughout the years.
There were times throughout the program where I would get a challenging goal from Coach Cutright, whether for a workout or race. Despite my lack of faith in my own abilities, I trusted that Coach Cutright would not have set them if he didn't think I was capable of accomplishing them. Although I didn't reach every goal every time, there were several that I surprised myself with. Not only did this allow me to become a more confident runner, but I also became more confident overall.
When I entered the program, all I wanted was to continue to enjoy running. Instead, I left with several school records and conference podium finishes, a few all-region awards, a lot of memories, a greater love for running, and a new family. Looking back on my academic and athletic careers at Juniata, there isn't anything I would change.