Most students count down the days until holidays. I counted down the days until I could leave school, not for a vacation, but to compete internationally for rugby. While my classmates reviewed tests, I packed my bags, knowing that for one week, my classroom would be thousands of miles away. Traveling for a sport, even for a week, is a whirlwind of excitement and adaptation as it’s immersing yourself in a new environment while staying focused on performance.
When people think of traveling, the mind usually goes to no schoolwork and relaxation, but my head was the opposite. Trying to work ahead in my classes, balance volleyball and lifting to prepare my body, and still having fun in my senior year, I was stressed. I contacted my teachers a couple of weeks in advance, informing them that I would be out and whether working ahead was an option.
I was in Lisbon, Portugal, from Feb. 9 to 16. The six-hour flight and different time zones can be exhausting for an athlete, but the excitement outweighed all those challenges for me. Once there, my schedule was packed with training sessions, team meetings, and viewing the different sights and culture Portugal offered. As a team, we visited the Jerónimos Monastery, a former chapel, and a beautiful representation of their heritage and architecture. We also went into downtown Lisbon, going into all the shops, getting coffee, eating pastries, and surfing.
If we weren’t touring, we were on the field building our connections, sharpening our game, and strategizing for all the different plays we might see. We would lift on occasion after practice and do mobility every morning and evening. We would finish each day exhausted but excited, carrying with us the lessons, friendships, and adrenaline from knowing that each day that passed was a day closer to game day.
Valentine’s Day came, and it was officially the day we were all waiting for. Every warm-up felt intense and exhilarating, every match felt like a new challenge, and every win felt like an accomplishment not everyone gets to experience. Competing against teams from all over the world, like Canada, Germany, Portugal, and more, we pushed to adapt quickly and bring our best to every game. The style of play each team brought was not only thrilling but also forced us to be sharp in the way we played: communicating clearly, staying connected on defense, being mentally tough, and uplifting each other no matter what. Off the field, I not only met amazing players, but also people.
The competition was strong, every match testing our teamwork, strategy, and resilience. We celebrated our victories and learned from moments that didn’t go our way, ultimately ending the two-day tournament 5-1, finishing second behind Spain. Standing with our second-place plaque as a team wasn’t all disappointing; I felt a sense of pride. As the only team representing the United States and coming from a country where rugby isn’t as developed as in other countries, getting second was a major accomplishment, not only for the club, but for our nation.
Looking back, I feel incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have experienced this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Traveling to a new country, facing top-level competition, and sharing the field with so many talented players was a privilege I will never forget. Beyond the games themselves, the friendships I built, the lessons I learned, and the memories I created had made this experience truly special. It reminded me how lucky I am to play a sport I love, to grow as an athlete and a person, and to be part of a team that pushed each other to be our best.
