Jojo Kim '20 | Track & Field
- Roster Bio & Stats
- Hometown: Orange County, California
- Major: History
To me, high jump is one giant metaphor for life, like the marathon. From the distance, you see the bar held up by two standards. Before you make your attempt though, you must imagine how you will approach your jump. After all, your energy and opportunities are limited. The first two steps are a mixture of explosion and bounce. The remaining eight are rhythmical and become speedier with every step.
It feels odd accelerating as I get closer to my obstacle. Sometimes, my brain freaks out because this technique goes against human instinct. But, this sport has taught me something refreshing - going against the grain can begin to feel natural with proper practice, discipline, coaching, and mental strength. And that all the work is worth it in the end. Truly, nothing feels more beautiful than a clean clearance! Sometimes, jumping feels like flying ~
Unfortunately, my last season was cut short, like many other student-athletes. I was not able to make the tweaks I wanted to, in order to set a new personal record. However, I can say I am grateful. I feel fulfilled that this sport has been able to see me through (metaphorically) all throughout my high school years into college graduation. The skills I learned from high jump are transferrable, and so are the heart and friends behind it!
A big, big thank you to my teammates for always recording my jumps when they could be recovering for their next sprint set (haha). Thank you so much Coach Meg, and Coach Althea especially, for showing me how the smallest details matter.