As my 89-year-old Papa faces cancer for the second time, our family has found comfort not in hospital rooms or treatment updates, but in one of his old stories. This post shares the legacy behind his NC State varsity soccer sweater. Through his own words, Papa reminds us that strength is about the life you’ve lived, the memories you’ve made, and the stories you pass down. In the middle of uncertainty, his story gave us something lighter to hold onto.

My brain is a constant swirl of random thoughts every week. While new pop culture trends and life events come and go, there are always those same core hyperfixations and memories that consistently resurface. So much so that I made a list (in no particular order) of a few of my recurring Roman Empires that I think about on a weekly, sometimes daily basis.

Dive into the highs and lows of my 14-year swimming journey, from early morning practices to unforgettable races and lifelong lessons from in and out of the pool