Senior Stories: Judith, The Journey to the Finish Line

Judith’s graduation from Animo Pat Brown. She will attend USC in the Fall!

Judith is a SRLA and Honda Power of Dreams Scholarship recipient. She will be attending USC to study Business Administration. She has participated in SRLA for 3 years, and has completed 3 marathons. She is thankful for SRLA and her coach for teaching her to take on leadership roles and to take initiative.

Throughout high school, students tend to join well-known sports such as basketball or baseball. I was interested in intramural sports when I became a freshman, but I wanted to try a sport that would challenge me both physically and mentally. I figured that by joining Students Run Los Angeles –a club dedicated to help train students to run the annual Los Angeles marathon– it would help me develop in character and help me keep fit. Like all other sports, long-distance running requires determination, persistence, and teamwork. Running long distances is not an easy sport for many young adults yet only a certain few are willing to put up with the strenuous work that comes along with running. For six months I ran a minimum of five or more miles for practice on multiple days a week, woke up at 5 A.M to train on weekends, and ate plant-based to nourish my body as a runner.

Eventually, I was chosen as a team captain during my second year of SRLA because of my dedication to the club. All these tasks would have been difficult if it were not for the support and motivation of my peers. Giving back the support to my teammates drove me to do better in my running and leading the team. Outside of running, I used my determination and leadership skills to better my community. When I founded my activist club at school, I reminded myself that through the hardships is where successful winners rise. My activist club was challenging in a good way because all the fundraisers and educational pamphlets depended on me. Also, not many students were aware of current events which added pressure on me to simplify complex issues. Towards the end of the year, I raised $200 to donate to charity and educated about 315 students about human, animal, and environmental welfare. I took on goals one at a time instead of drowning myself in the stress of having too many goals. I learned this tactic through my runs–you must appreciate and take your time with each mile before starting the next. It doesn’t matter how long it takes you to finish, as long as you are driven with passion and complete your goal in the end.

“ It doesn’t matter how long it takes you to finish, as long as you are driven with passion and complete your goal in the end. ”

Judith at her graduation with her SRLA coach, Dolores Medina.

Now that I am going to start college this year, something that I can take from all my race and marathon experiences from these past three years in SRLA is that life is a journey. The journey to achieving your goals is much simpler with people by your side. The fuel to drive these goals to success starts within yourself. So far I have ran 15 races and 3 marathons and my passion for running will not stop after high school. Running humbles and educates me about getting through the hardships of life. I am grateful to be an inspiration to other students, myself, and my teachers by running long-distance through SRLA.

Judith gives her coach of 3 years, Dolores Medina, a special shoutout: She is the sole reason for why SRLA kept running at school and because of her passion and support, students loved and enjoyed spending time together during practice, races, and during school. We would always be ready to run when she was. She is like a mother and cheerleader figure for the APB SRLA team.

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