An athlete’s journey from freshman to sophomore.

Joining the Varsity team as a freshman is a big accomplishment but can also be overwhelming. For Genesis Ramirez, the experience was excitement and nerves. “My first reaction was feeling really nervous because I was having a completely different experience than other freshman girls on my team,” she said. While others were settling into high school, she was already competing at a higher level, which made her feel different from others.

As she moved into her sophomore year, her role on the team changed. “My role has changed from being the second runner to the top runner and getting known by other schools in cross country,” she said. Now, she’s one of the key runners on the team, and her school and others are noticing her progress.

Being the only freshman on varsity came with challenges. “Some challenges I faced were keeping up with the first runner,” she said. However, she didn’t let this stop her. She worked on getting mentally ready for each race, which helped her stay focused and strong even when things got tough.

This year, she’s aiming for bigger goals. “My goal for this season is to break 18 minutes when racing or practicing,” she said. She’s also focused on helping her team win. ” The goal is for me to get district champ as a team and myself.” Her determination shows her commitment to both personal and team success.

One of her favorite memories from her freshman year was a trip to Round Rock, a city in Austin. “A memorable moment I had was going to Round Rock with all my teammates,” she said. They raced, visited the University of Houston, and even enjoyed sightseeing. “We went to this donut place as well,” she added.

She gives simple but good advice for freshmen wanting to join the varsity team. “The advice I’ll give freshmen is just focus on yourself, try your best, and be proud of your accomplishments,” she said. She believes staying focused and being proud of your hard effort is key to reaching your goals.

Looking back, she sees how much she’s grown. “I’ve grown so much as an athlete because I’ve been hitting lower times, and I’ve been more confident because of that,” she said. Her hard work and dedication have helped her become a stronger, faster runner, and she’s excited to see what’s next for her and her team this season.