Edwin just graduated from Academia Avance and is an SRLA scholarship winner! Edwin joined SRLA his freshman year of high school and has come back to the program ever since. His experience in SRLA helped him become a better person thanks to the support and motivation of his coaches and team. Edwin will be attending UC Davis and majoring in Aerospace Engineering.

SRLA has been a life changing and unique experience that I never thought would change me as much as it did. At the start of my first season, I had no idea what I was getting myself into and basically made a spontaneous decision to join this after school activity I knew nothing about. I was very reserved and nervous when I ran my first race but I inevitably conquered it which was the first of many to come. Through the struggles of running a marathon it made me stronger both physically and mentally. I was very self-conscious in the beginning but the support of my friends, leaders, and everyone who went to cheer on the runners made the experience unimaginable. Overall SRLA was a big piece of my development as a person through dedication, perseverance, and surpassing my limits. My ninth-grade self wouldn’t believe me if I told him that due to this experience my perception of myself and what I can accomplish is all up to me.

Edwin and his team from Academia Avance!

The limits I put on myself shattered once I completed my first marathon which led me to keep returning and facing those challenges again. They made me stronger as a person in ways I can’t fully describe and made me closer to my whole SRLA group. SRLA helped me bond with my friends and leaders in a different and more intimate way since we had the luxury of this shared experience. These strangers I met four years ago are now people I can depend on much like how they can depend on me. When these races seemed never ending, the bond I had with my group kept me going since I knew they were going through a similar feeling.

My leaders had more confidence in me than I had at times which really pushed me to be a better runner and a better person. Many people don’t have the privilege of support like I have experienced for which I am truly grateful for. Through all the hardships I faced, the early mornings, constant training, and pain I went through I would do it all over again. Although it is my last year running as a student, the SRLA experience is not something I would trade for the world.

Rapid Fire!

Favorite post run snack…
A cold Gatorade, specifically the Glacier Freeze flavor.

Something you can’t run without…

My headphones since running with music is unmatched in my opinion or a sandwich.

Favorite LA Marathon mile…

Mile 26 since I’m almost at the finish line and the only thing that can possibly stop me at that point is myself.

An artist/music you to to listen to while running…

I mostly like listening to low tempo music at the start of a run and towards the end I need music that is more upbeat since it keeps me distracted from my fatigue.

Someone/something that inspires me to run…

The euphoria of finishing a race. The satisfaction of finishing gives me an unmatched sense of accomplishment that I can’t really get anywhere else.

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Senior Stories: Edwin, Surpassing My Limits

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