One of my first assignments in eighth grade was to create a vision board. It had a school, personal, family and post-high school section. In the center of the post-high school section was the UCLA soccer logo, and next to it I wrote, “I will work hard and deserve to be at their school.” I became determined to do that.

As a Bruin, many of us had the privilege of embarking on the college search journey. Whether student or student-athlete, we toured colleges, asked questions, sought insights into student life across universities and tirelessly compared schools, imagining what life at each one might look like.

I can think back to as early as I can remember, being a young kid sitting in the Rose Bowl and watching UCLA defeat USC, thinking how amazing it would be to have the chance to compete for the school that I have grown up loving.

In 2014, I was driven to the hospital after months of sickness and diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. An hour later, despite the fear I felt myself drowning in when the nurse told me that it was time for her to give me my first dose of insulin, I decided I would give myself my first injection.

 
Wow… I can hardly believe it’s time to say goodbye. As I sit down to write this, my heart is full of gratitude and nostalgia.

It’s hard to say goodbye. Being at UCLA has been amazing. It’s been an incredible journey. How do I describe this, and where do I start?