I was a coxswain on Brown women’s rowing team for a couple of years. During this time, my team won the NCAA Championship and my boat won the Eastern Championship as we had an undefeated season. Putting this accomplishment aside, I learned a tremendous amount about what it means to be on the team and to work towards the same goal. I adored my rowers who gave everything they had in every single race even if it was a practice. I absolutely loved - and was equally overwhelmed by - the sheer amount of work and extraordinary discipline required, every minute of racing as a coxswain —- to the level that I secretly wished I was an American citizen so I could compete at the international level. Just to give you the context, this was my first year being in the States and I probably barely spoke English. What made up for this was my enthusiasm.