I just randomly got the idea, that fencing would be fun and no one else does it. I have asthma so I couldn't do a lot of other sports, like soccer and basketball, fencing a perfect fit for me.

As I started doing really well, some college coaches started to notice me. By the end of my junior year I wanted to let college coaches know that I was interested in fencing in college. Penn was the perfect fit for me.

Fencing is usually an individual sport and in college you have a team cheering for you. Every win helps the team, it was nice. Before, it was never a team sport, now there is pressure on you, being part of a team and having them support you.

A lot of people started younger. Some of my teammates have fenced since they were eight, I started when I was 15. Everyone has a bad day, I was happy to be there. I could have fenced better, but I have three more years to qualify. I'll try to do it again next year.

It was a lot of fun, but it was a tough event. They are the top 24 girls in the entire country. There were people competing from the Olympics in 2004 there. It's really amazing to fence all of them, it's a tough event. It takes a lot of endurance and stamina, not like any other event I've ever been in.

I'm only a freshman and it was intense and the competition was really strong. Hopefully, next year I'll qualify again and know what to expect, how to handle the pressure. This year I went in not knowing what it would be like. They beat me only in experience.