I've played golf for more than eight years, and I'm a starter on the South Windsor varsity team. I've competed on the Junior PGA tour, finishing first through fifth in multiple summer tournaments, and qualified for the Drive, Chip & Putt National Qualifier and the Connecticut Junior PGA Championship.
And yes, I made a hole-in-one at Glastonbury Hills. But what golf has really given me is a way to think.
Focus: the next shot
Golf is mostly you and one shot. You can't carry the last bad hole into the next swing. That's the same focus I need in the lab, where a careless pipetting step can compromise a run, and in EMT training, where I need to stay attentive under pressure.
Clarity: choose a plan
Before a shot, I have to read the wind, the lie, and the distance, then choose a plan and commit. I try to bring that habit to a research problem, too: understand what matters, then act deliberately.
Direction: small adjustments add up
A small change in aim can send the ball far off target. Golf has taught me the value of consistent adjustments—practice, review what went wrong, and try again. That's how I've approached my path toward biomedical engineering as well.
Time on the green. Time with a team.
Leadership: your attitude sets a tone
Golf is an individual sport, but varsity is a team. Staying calm, encouraging teammates, and showing up prepared matter alongside my own score. That connects to leading cadets in Civil Air Patrol, where my attitude helps set the tone for the flight.
Focus on the shot in front of you. Keep the bigger direction in mind.