Swimming

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I have been swimming competitively since I was ten years old. For over half my life, I have dedicated my blood, sweat, and tears to this sport. I could not tell you how many yards I have swum, how many meets I have been in, and the number of swimsuits, goggles, and caps I have worn. The most extended amount of time I have been out of the pool is three weeks. Let me tell you when those three weeks are up, and you dive into the pool for the first time, it feels like you have been gone a year. When jumping into the pool, you get this rush of cold water that suddenly awakens your whole body. As I prepare to take the first stroke, I pull the water and push it behind me, propelling my body forward. The black line at the bottom of the pool guides me and tells me when I need to turn. The whole point of the sport is to race the clock, and I live for this adrenaline rush.

Swimming has shaped me into the person I am today. It has taught me discipline, commitment, and strength. Jumping into a cold pool at 5:30 in the morning seems not ideal. But it is necessary when the rest of your day is filled with other priorities. Nonetheless, this taught me that even when you feel like you have too much on your plate, you can always fit something that you love into your schedule. I'm committed to the sport, and I will never give it up.

Cooking/Food

I love to cook! I have always loved it, and even when I was young, I knew I wanted to pursue it as a career. The earliest memory that I have of food and "cooking" is when I was 4 years old and at my Nanny's house when my parents were at work. Nanny would allow my brother Ryan and I to cut shapes out of our slices of cheese with cookie cutters. Sure, this may not be "cooking" but that blossomed into a love for all things food.

Being in the kitchen just seems natural, picking which flavors and colors go together come to me at ease. I also love it when I cook for other people and to see the smile on their faces when they take that first bite. I think that is a big part of cooking is caring for other people. Cooking is how I get to be creative and taught me how to be creative in other aspects of my life.

Last summer I worked for a restaurant in my hometown and was able to enhance my skills and learn from those around me. The owner kind of became my mentor and taught me the secrets and interworkings of having a restaurant. Down below there are some pictures of dishes that I learned to make at the restaurant. I loved this experience and it made me want to pursue the career even further.

Culture/Being Danish is a trait

I am half Danish, half Lithuanian. Sure, my last name means a bald man's forehead, and I have the face structure and body build as my Lithuanian family, but I practice so many Danish traditions in my family that it feels like apart of me. First off, my grandparent's names are John and Inge Tønder, and I call them Mormor and Morfar. They came to the United States in the 1980s with my mom and uncles and brought their traditions with them. Their traditions were then passed onto my family by my mom.

Being Danish has allowed me to connect with others as we have the same experiences and traditions. We bond over what our grandparents and parents do that makes them quintessentially Danish. The way that they react to information, make choices, and behave are all very similar. It is almost like a "you make your own decisions and live with them" attitude. In some ways, I feel like I have adopted those attitudes and behaviors by just having a parent that is Danish.

The last time I went to Denmark with my mom, we visited so many family and friends and even got to see a lot of special places. I really felt close to my heritage and culture during this trip. I hope to go back soon, and perhaps even learn fluent Danish.