Micah Monaghan

Three days a week, I stab people, but they let me. In fact, they stab me back. I started fencing when I was 14, which is pretty old to start a new sport, but that didn't stop me. I went to my first practice, paid ample attention to the coaches, tried my very hardest, and was really terrible. Despite my lack of any natural skill or talent, I absolutely loved the sport, so I stuck with it.

I went to three practices a week and one day in my sophomore year of high school, I decided I wanted to become a Division I NCAA fencer. I held myself to a strict routine and practiced at least an hour every day and started emailing coaches.

I got zero offers.

But I had one hope, the coach at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill told me I could walk onto the team if I got in academically. Since you’re reading this post, you can guess I got rejected. I turned my sights to the University of Georgia, which only has a club team. However, I already knew many of the fencers at the club and thought UGA was a good school. Now, I’ve grown to love my fencing club, and truly enjoy the lack of commitment and amount of free time. I’m now the captain of the club and will serve as the Vice President next year. Fencing has helped me grow in so many realms, including athletically, intellectually, and socially and has truly become a key part of my character.