I’ve hit the point of having feelings of tiredness and the season has not even started yet. The main reason for this feeling comes down to the weather. Pullman weather is quite a challenge for me to deal with. It is probably the biggest challenge I have to face throughout the long school year.

When the school year starts in August, the weather is sunny and the heat is vibrant, similar to the weather back home in California. It makes me motivated to start the day and accomplish goals. As I got older, I realized that it is best for me to prepare for the snow sooner rather than later. With this mindset, I went clothes shopping strictly to prepare myself for the winter and it came sooner than I expected.

The snow came on a late Tuesday night. I just finished jumping practice inside the fieldhouse where I got good jumps in. I was headed to tutoring at 8 p.m. I felt weary but determined to build my grades the best I can. Tutoring went well, but once I got outside, I felt the snowflakes hit my face and I was frustrated because I had a long and strenuous walk ahead of me.

I have never been a fan of the snow because of how far I would have to walk and in general, I can’t stand the cold. People start to get sick and my energy starts to fade away, but I learned to adapt to the cold. There was a time when we had to jump in blistering winds during practice and I quickly understood it was mind over matter. I became consistent throughout each jump during practice which built my confidence.

Before my freshman year, I had never seen snow; my first time seeing snow, I was ecstatic, but those emotions faded quickly once I knew how hard walking from my dorm in Global Scholars Hall to class as far as the Spark. My hands trembling in the cold and my mind fuzzled, it was an ongoing battle I find myself facing every year and losing, until now.

Throughout the season when the weather is atrocious, we practiced inside the bubble or the fieldhouse. I find my performance strengthened inside because my body would warm instantly and I get my bounce back jumping over high bars. However, the cold of the Oregon meets would be the toughest battle to face.

The famous Hayward Field, full of legendary moments in track and field history, was remodeled and every time I competed there, it would always be raining similar to Pullman. I would jump moderately well, but my inner thoughts know I can jump better if the weather was sunny, and in the Pac-12 Track and Field Championships last year, I received my wish.

Despite not getting the results I wanted, the weather in Oregon that day was beautiful. The sun shining over the esteemed track and the flowers around the track gleaming was a sight to see. I was able to tie my collegiate personal best of 2.05 meters (6 feet 8.5 inches) and I learned that the weather does play a factor in how someone can jump.

I am learning how to adapt to the weather.

No matter rain or shine, I will always jump my highest and be as explosive as I can be throughout each meet.