Meet the Founder: The Story Behind From Your Teammate

Before From Your Teammate was a nonprofit, a platform, or a mentorship idea, it was simply a lived experience.

It came from the feeling of being constantly in motion — between practices, flights, school assignments, and competitions — while trying to hold everything together at once.

Where It All Started

The idea for From Your Teammate began during a difficult period of adjustment.

“I started competing in 2020, right as the pandemic hit. When training and school resumed, my schedule became overwhelming. It felt like there was never enough time for everything.”

Balancing elite-level training with academics and everyday life quickly became exhausting. The pressure wasn’t just physical — it was emotional and mental too.

But during that time, there was one major source of support: family.

“My older siblings played a crucial role in helping me manage stress, time, and expectations, which made me realize how vital it is to have someone in your corner.”

That realization planted the seed for something bigger.

“That’s when the idea for From Your Teammate was born. As a high-intensity, elite athlete competing nationally and internationally, I experienced burnout, isolation, and pressure firsthand. I knew that no athlete should have to bear that weight alone.”

And with that belief, From Your Teammate came to life — not as a concept, but as a response to a very real need.

“From Your Teammate was created to ensure that others do not have to face these challenges alone.”

Falling in Love With the Sport

Long before competitions and travel schedules, the sport began in a much simpler place.

“I first fell in love with this sport when I would watch my older siblings attend class while I stayed in a stroller on the other side of the window, watching them kick and punch the air.”

From the outside, it looked exciting and almost magical. But the first experience inside the gym told a different story.

“Although my first class was everything but whimsical, I think the crying and holding on to my mom and sister for dear life is where it all started — the fear and intimidation that turned into confidence and determination.”

That transformation from fear to confidence would later become a core part of the founder’s journey — and the philosophy behind From Your Teammate.

What Keeps an Athlete Going

For many elite athletes, motivation isn’t always loud or visible. Sometimes it comes from quiet, steady sources.

“My faith in God and my family keep me going when nobody is watching.”

In moments of doubt, exhaustion, or pressure, those anchors provide strength that goes beyond sport.

Lessons Learned Along the Way

One of the most important lessons didn’t come from a competition or a medal. It came from the daily realities of being a student-athlete.

“Words of advice I would give to my younger self is to eat well and focus on quality over quantity.”

Constant travel and packed schedules once made it difficult to maintain healthy habits.

“I used to struggle with eating, and being a student-athlete always on the go, I realized how important it is to have a fueled body, mind, and soul. I’ve really learned to appreciate food.”

That lesson became about more than nutrition. It became about balance, care, and sustainability — the same values that now shape From Your Teammate.