My love of the water started when I was four, during my first swim lesson in Newfoundland, Canada. My swim teacher could not keep my head above water, literally. I think it probably drove her a little crazy, but I just loved it so much. The smell of chlorine, the sound of splashing and the feeling of being in the water, it all just felt right. From that moment on, swimming became a huge part of my life.

My sisters and I all grew up in the pool, and those early years shaped who we are today. Sophia, the oldest, is graduating from law school this year. Olivia is serving in the United States Navy as an Explosive Ordnance Officer, currently deployed in Spain. Mia, the youngest, is in Bozeman, Montana, dancing her heart out and is genuinely the smartest 12-year-old I know. And I’m about to graduate from UCLA, the number one public university in the country.

If you had told 14-year-old me that I’d end up at UCLA competing in a Division I sport, I would’ve laughed. Most people start rowing in high school, which is exactly what I did, or walk on in college. I didn’t even know what rowing was before I started. But the first time I stepped onto a launch at age 14 and saw the sky lit up with early morning hues of orange and yellow, with boats of eight women moving in perfect sync, I was hooked. The rhythm, the power, the teamwork, it was everything I didn’t know I needed.

My parents, on the other hand, weren’t so sure. The boathouse was far from home, and the schedule was intense. But that stubborn 14-year-old girl who wouldn’t take no for an answer sat down and wrote a full essay explaining how she’d balance school, practice and the long commutes. It took some convincing, but eventually, they said yes.

Leaving behind a sport I’d done for eight years felt like a big risk, but rowing turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life. It’s given me some of the hardest, most rewarding moments: 4:45 A.M. alarms, brutal workouts, stunning sunrises and a team of over 70 women who have become family. It wasn’t always easy. There were tough days, injuries and moments of doubt. But what kept me going was the people. Strong, determined women waking up before the sun, hands blistered, all working toward one shared goal of moving the boat forward.

Being part of UCLA women’s rowing has meant being part of something bigger than myself. Helping build a legacy. Lifting others as we go. UCLA has shaped me, challenged me and given me so much.

Thank you to my teammates, for lifting me up, making every stroke count and for putting up with me hogging the mic on Kudos Fridays on the bus. Thank you to my parents, for saying yes to that stubborn 14-year-old’s dream and supporting me through everything. Thank you to my sisters – Sophia, Olivia and Mia – for making me tough, grounded and always striving for more. Thank you to my coaches, for helping me grow into the person I am today and for the lessons I’ll carry with me long after graduation. And thank you to the UCLA community, for making this place feel like home.

I’ll always be a Bruin, and I couldn’t have asked for a better way to spend the last four years!

Thank you for everything and signing off!

Julia Adey competed for UCLA women’s rowing from 2021-2025.