Roger Federer

From a young age, animals have had a special place in my heart. From scouting for roly-polies during recess in kindergarten to begging my parents for my first pet fish, it was obvious from the start that animals would play a central role in my life.

While it was likely my childhood dog Maggie that sparked my love for animals, it was horses that ultimately captivated me. In elementary school, I would often find myself fixated on a book about horse breeds during reading time or searching fervently for barns near my house I could finally take lessons at.

Though it took years, I ultimately convinced my parents to let me take lessons at a very small barn close to home, where I gained invaluable experience in a more informal (and probably less safe) setting than they would have preferred. As time progressed, I graduated to the barn at a local private high school, which I loved so dearly I ultimately applied to and attended. After classes, on weekends, and during breaks, I would spend hour after hour riding horse after horse to spend as much time with and gain as much understanding of the animals I loved as possible.

As high school came to an end and I had to say goodbye to my friends, both equine and human, I knew it wasn’t the end of my horse journey. In the near future, I hope to have both the time and resources to continue riding and to someday own a horse of my own.