Reflections on the First Quarter at UCLA: Lessons, Challenges, and Growth

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As I reflect on the first quarter of my UCLA journey, a few thoughts come to mind. I have always had a connection to UCLA, as both of my parents attended the university, and my father played on the water polo team when he was a student here. Being able to continue their legacy has been a dream come true for me. UCLA and the water polo team have given me an incredibly valuable opportunity to pursue academic and athletic excellence at the highest level, granting me a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for personal growth. It has been incredible to play the sport that I love while also receiving an incredible education. To win a national championship for UCLA (its 124th!) has been more than a dream come true, and I look forward to achieving similar success in the seasons to come.

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Before this fall season, our team engaged in seemingly endless hours of training, both in the United States, as well as in Europe. Our incredible Europe trip offered me the opportunity to gain experience from competition against better players, as well as the time to connect with my new teammates. I am grateful to my coaches and teammates for welcoming me so quickly during that time period. After returning from Europe, our team trained consistently and with the sole focus of winning a national championship.

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The rigorous training that we endured this season has taught me lessons of resilience and mental toughness, which I believe will translate to many other aspects of my life after college. Through my experiences this quarter, I have learned that I can do hard things, and that hard work is critical to achieving excellence. Our team’s consistent mentality of getting the most out of our training and out of every game we played through the summer months and fall season was what we needed to do to ultimately attain our goal for the season. Winning a National Championship has been one of, if not the greatest success in my life, and its feeling is unmatched. This experience has taught me what one can achieve when they put their all into something, no matter how daunting the test may seem.

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Lastly, I have reflected on how grateful I am to Luskin Orthopaedic Institute for Children, my surgeon Dr. Anthony Scaduto, and the entire care team for everything they have done for me following my scoliosis diagnosis. Without them and the incredible care I received, I likely would not be where I am today. Just a few years ago, I was unsure as to the capacity that I would play the sport I love again. Thanks to Dr. Scaduto and the LuskinOIC team, I have been able to rise to the pinnacle of the sport of water polo in the United States, a dream I have had for many years.

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