Growth happens outside the comfort zone.
At 14, I left my traditional high school in Lexington, Massachusetts, and moved to Germany to train full-time. This was more than just table tennis. I lived with athletes from all over the world and learned things you can't really pick up from a coach, including how to navigate a new culture, how to organize my own schedule, how to cook, and overall, I just learned to become independent at such a young age. My daily routine consisted of taking online lessons, spending long periods in training and physical activity such as running, and actively trying to become the best version of myself.
Every athlete eventually reaches a moment when years of hard work come down to one opportunity. For me, that moment came at one of the most important tournaments of my career, when I was within reach of securing a place on the national team. I took that experience as motivation, going back to the training hall and improving the aspects of my game that needed work. In the end, I reached a career-high rating of 2578 and recently placed 3rd at the 2026 US Nationals U19 Tournament.
“I went to Germany to become a better player, but I came back with a much better understanding of myself.”
