I'm no stranger to being away from home. 

When I was just 18 years old, I left my hometown of Paris to begin training with some of Europe's most prominent track and field athletes. 

No matter the distance or the sacrifice, I have never shied away from a chance to compete and better myself as both a person and an athlete.

So, needless to say, when the opportunity presented itself to join the track and field team at Kent State, I was all in.

I packed my bags and traveled nearly four thousand miles to begin this life-changing journey.

A whole new world

However, arriving here in Kent, Ohio, was an incredibly overwhelming experience for me.

Not only was I thousands of miles from home, I was also navigating an entirely new country and culture with limited English skills. 

I was trying to adjust to college life, new training regimens, and a completely new set of routines — all while having a difficult time understanding and communicating with the people around me.

In all honesty, it was an extremely uneasy feeling. 

I began wondering if I'd ever find my footing here in the United States.

Part of me felt like giving up and heading back home. 

However, what kept me moving forward was the love and support of my teammates, coaches, and the entire community here at Kent State. 

From the very moment I arrived, I knew they had my back. I felt like they were doing everything in their power to help me find success. 

I got to take English classes and was even set up with a tutor to help me with the language.

My teammates always engaged me in conversations and made me a part of their circle. 

My coaches constantly showed an interest in my life that went far beyond athletics. 

I'm just beyond grateful for everything these people have done for me. 

They did not allow me to give up on my dreams.

And so, I didn't. 

Personal bests

It's not easy to find your home away from home, but today, I can doubtlessly say that Kent State earned that title. 

People here have always made me feel like I was “more than an athlete” which means the world to me. 

But with all the early challenges, I was certainly a bit surprised at how quickly I started performing at my best. 

In my freshman season, I set personal records in the indoor long jump and outdoor triple jump. Outdoors, I jumped a distance of 7.06 meters at the Akron Indoor Invitational. Indoors, I jumped 15.94 meters in the triple jump at the Mid-American Conference Championships.

While those marks were amazing and solidified that I was in the right place to better myself as an athlete, I was hungry for more. 

I spent the off-season working hard and hyper-focusing on the details of my approach, takeoff, flight, and landings. 

In 2023, thus far, I have set a new personal best in the long jump with a distance of 7.13 meters at the Cherry Blossom Invitational in early April and look to continue to build on it as I make my way through the final meets of the season. 

I feel like everything is starting to come together, and I can't wait to finish this season on a strong note.

Grateful for the opportunity

Deep in my heart, I always knew that coming here and leaving France was the right decision. But seeing these dreams become a reality is a feeling I cannot even begin to describe. 

To say that I am grateful would be an understatement.

While the future beyond Kent State remains largely unknown at this point, I know one thing is for certain. 

No matter where this journey of life leads, I will always be thankful for the people and my experience here at Kent State.

Without a doubt, taking this chance was one of the best decisions of my life.

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