At the beginning of every school year teachers assign my most hated writing piece, the cliché, “Who are you”. Whether it’s because I’m shy or because it becomes a thin list of accomplishments, I always dread filling out the who you are questioners. I have found that for most teachers my name and a couple activities usually suffice; Emma Heller, student-athlete, older sister, artist and friend.

These labels are important because they show the activities we dedicate most of our lives to. They might not fully describe who we are, but they do influence our decisions, shaping who we end up being. As a rower, I have discovered that I am not a quitter.

My hands scraped with bleeding blisters and a cramped calf muscle is worth the pain if we have a winning race. Yes, I’m competitive and I also love the feeling of a steady boat one where you can feel the force of the water underneath you, knowing all the power is from you. A truly winning race is one where you left everything you had in the boat and there is no doubt that you could have done better.

Dedication is probably one of the reasons I’m writing this at four am. I have found that homework is best completed during the hours of three to six. Unusual as most teenagers love to sleep in, but after a practice I’m too exhausted to fumble through my thoughts and usually end up falling asleep and getting up early to study. I work well under the pressure; the time crunch before school starts is a race. I can work in peace and quiet, as the rest of my family sleeps, getting my best ideas with out any disruptions. My favorite thing about early mornings is the sunrise. I often stop working and being a semi artist, take out my camera or colored pencils for a quick sketch. It also reminds me of how many other people are watching that same sun. There is a whole world to discover who we are and they do not ask about you; instead you must show them.