I climb for a couple reasons. One, because it’s a part of who I am. I feel the most like me when I am able to have some type of mind-body connection. I often find this through movement or athletic activities. Climbing does that for me because of the immense mental focus and resilience it requires in tandem with peak body coordination, strength, and technique. I also climb because I want to find my potential as an athlete. In some ways, I feel as though I wasn’t able to accomplish this when I played soccer. I made a hard decision to stop playing my senior year in high school while I was getting scouted by colleges. For most of my life, playing in college was a big goal of mine, so I felt like I stopped short of what I was capable of when I decided to stop playing. Lastly, I climb because it’s a beautiful way for me to experience the world, landscapes, and people. Being able to travel far and wide in order to climb has given me opportunities and experiences I’d never have otherwise. Being in beautiful spaces refreshes my soul. Having a community that's spread out across the globe is a beautiful way to share and amplify those experiences with others.