Zae

When Zae was just two years old, her parents enrolled her in YMCA youth programs, hoping to give her opportunities to learn, grow and have fun. What they couldn’t have known at the time was that the Y would become a constant source of strength through some of the most challenging years of her young life.

As she grew, Zae tried a little bit of everything — dance, swimming lessons, T-ball, basketball, soccer and, eventually, gymnastics. The friendships, encouragement and sense of belonging she found through sports helped shape who she was becoming.

Then life became more difficult.

Like many children, Zae began struggling with anxiety. Soon after, the world changed as COVID-19 disrupted routines, friendships and everyday life. In the middle of it all, her father was deployed for an entire year, leaving their family to navigate an already difficult season while missing someone they loved dearly.

Through every challenge, sports remained a steady place for Zae.

The gym became more than a place to practice skills. It became a place where she could focus, build resilience and discover her own strength. Each practice, each new skill and each encouraging coach helped her take small steps forward. Over time, the confidence she gained through athletics began to replace the anxiety that once held her back.

What started as a fun activity at the Y grew into a passion. Zae competed in gymnastics for five years, developing not only as an athlete but as a confident young woman who learned she could overcome obstacles and accomplish hard things.

The impact extended beyond Zae. Her younger sister spent years watching from the sidelines, cheering her on at practices and competitions. Inspired by her big sister, she eventually fell in love with gymnastics too. For the last two seasons, the sisters had the opportunity to compete together, creating memories their family will treasure forever.

Today, when you see Zae competing, you don’t see the anxiety that once stood in her way. You see confidence, determination and a young woman who found her strength through the support of her family, her coaches, her teammates and her YMCA community.