One Rising Star

 “Have you ever stopped and thought: “Wow. I prayed for this. It’s here. It’s happening.”? I recently received a message from an  old student from my very first school in Canada. It was a simple note, but it sparked reflection in me about where I’ve come from and everything that’s happened over the last 15–20 years. At my age, I often look around and see many of the people ( my age ) settling down; getting married, having kids, buying homes ( A dream for many, especially women. ). And sometimes, I can’t help but  ask myself: what am I doing with my life? However, that message from my former student reminded me of something I often forget: I’ve already been living a dream. When I left my first teaching job in Canada, it was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made. I absolutely loved my students, and together we had built a really special bond. But at that time, I had a dream to travel the world; to immerse myself in different cultures and to learn from people whose li...

"Momentum doesn’t just return; you rebuild it, one choice at a time." Before summer began, I was feeling a little low. The tipping point came when I found out my HYROX competition partner’s visa had been denied, meaning we wouldn’t be able to compete at the HYROX World Championships in Chicago. Deep down, I knew it wasn’t the end of the world, but I was still pretty bummed. I thrive when I have a goal, something to work toward, and for nearly two months, I’d been all-in. That training gave me momentum, purpose and energy. When that goal disappeared, so did my drive. Suddenly, my energy shifted in the wrong direction. I slipped into autopilot, stuck in the routine of daily life, work, and thought patterns that were becoming more and more negative. Social media didn’t help. It felt like everyone else was out there doing so much, and I had nothing exciting happening. I would catch myself comparing and as my thoughts spiraled, my body started responding, and not in a good way. Th...

“ The successful warrior is the average (wo)man , with laser-like focus. ” Life’s been feeling a little dull lately, but there’s one thing keeping me fired up; the experience of a lifetime is just around the corner. In just four weeks, I’ll be heading to Chicago to compete in the Hyrox World Championships, and I’m locked in. For many competitive and athletic kids, the dream is to make it to the Olympics or stand on a world championship stage in their sport. While Hyrox may not be the Olympics, for me, this is kind of that moment. This is my ‘world stage’; I can’t wait to soak it all in and add it to the list of things I’m proud of. This idea sort of started on my 40th birthday this year. While most people celebrate with a party and cake or a getaway, I made a wild choice: I booked my place in the Hyrox World Championships with my doubles partner. Bold? Definitely. Crazy? Probably. Worth it? Without a doubt. The last time I pushed myself this hard was back in 2019 when I trained for a C...

“You don’t have to be perfect, just prepared enough to wing it!” I competed in Hyrox this weekend, and while I’m proud of the outcome ( 1st place in our age category (40–49) for the women’s pro doubles division ), I’ve been having mixed feelings about my personal performance. Truthfully, things didn’t quite unfold the way I’d visualized them in the lead-up, and I wasn’t as sharp as I’d hoped to be on race day. I also worked out two days before (S hould’ve known better!) , so my legs were still feeling it. That said, my partner and I still pulled off the win, which speaks volumes about the work we’ve each been putting in individually. It was exciting ( and a little intimidating ) to compete alongside some big-name CrossFitters in the region, but we held our own and that felt pretty good! Over the past few months, I’ve been consistent and disciplined with my training. Thankfully, I stayed healthy this time around, unlike last year, which already felt like a small victory. But, I didn’t ...

“ It means no worries for the rest of your days; it’s our problem-free philosophy.🎶 ” As a teacher who juggles a heavy workload throughout the academic year, I truly look forward to the times when I can take a break and escape this reality through travel. But as a solo female traveler, there’s always that nagging feeling of nervousness. Despite my extensive research, it’s hard not to feel anxious when I’m heading into the unknown alone. This spring break, I had thought to stick with what I knew, perhaps a revisit to Bali or Sri Lanka, but deep down, I craved something new. Kenya had been calling me for a while, especially because of my love for African vibes. Having been to Tanzania before, I didn’t feel the need for a full safari adventure. Instead, I was more drawn to the coastal city of Mombasa; I remembered an old colleague from there and how she spoke of it so lovingly, so I thought it would be great to explore the place myself. Mombasa turned out to be just what I needed. I ...

"I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I believe I’m on the path I’m meant to be." As we get older, it’s easy to get trapped in society’s idea of what life "should" look like. By the time we hit 40, there’s a well-defined picture of success: owning a home, starting a family, climbing the career ladder. But as I approach this milestone, I’m choosing to remind myself that true happiness isn’t found in checking off someone else’s list. It’s found in stepping outside the box, embracing the unexpected, and allowing life to unfold in its own unique way. Sure, my path hasn’t always been conventional, and I’ve often found myself comparing my journey to others, wondering why I’m not where they are. But when I take a step back and reflect, I see how much I’ve gained by stepping off the well-worn road. Life may not have gone according to plan, but I’m proud of the unexpected milestones I’ve reached along the way. I’ve traveled to over 40 countries, lived in three (ye...

“Physical strength will get you to the start line, but mental strength will get you to the finish line.” As I continue my fitness journey, I’m always looking for new ways to challenge myself and push my limits. Recently, I’ve been gearing up for HyROX in April, where I’ll compete in the women’s doubles pro category alongside an amazing partner. Last year, we clinched 1st place in our age category, and this time, we’re ready to raise the bar even higher. To prepare, I’ve been integrating more running and higher-intensity training into my weekly routine, alongside some soccer, which I’ve been playing once a week. It’s been a juggling act, but I’m thrilled to have found a balanced training schedule that works for me. My routine includes a bit of weightlifting, CrossFit, soccer, HyROX-specific training, and running, plus two rest days to make sure my body is properly recovered to bring my best performance to each workout. When it comes to long races and tough challenges like HyROX, one thi...