Persis William-Mensah '14 Recruiting Profile

I have moved around a lot in my childhood coming to America from Ghana and switching schools continuously.  However,  I have been in love with track and field since I was in the third grade! I remember the first time I ever raced in my life like it was yesterday.  My 3rd grade teacher had lined our entire class along a fence and told us to race to a nearby tree.  After coming in first place, I was approached by the track coach at my elementary school who had been watching and encouraged to try out for the team.  And that is where it all began!  Because I had switched schools so much I did not participate in track and field in 6th grade.  However, at lunch one day, I remember racing my friend for fun and later being recruited by the middle school track coach to try out for the team and I have stuck with it to this day.   I believe that because track and field is such a big part of my life, it has shaped me into the person that I am today as have all other aspects of my life.  From running in long, loose shorts, an oversized shirt that seemed to engulf my skinny frame and seeing everyone get the same "Your a winner" medal regardless of their place at the end of the race in elementary school  to racing in  spikes and  knowing that the difference between 1st and 3rd place could be only .02 seconds, i know I have come a long way.  I believe that the fact that I have been able to experience both the competitive and care free side of the sport is why I enjoy it so much.  I know that  when its time to race , I must stay focused.  I owe it to the team and myself to push hard and represent the school name I display proudly on my shirt.  At the same time, I love that you can have fun while participating in track and field.  Whether its team bonding nights, conversing before a meet starts, or confiding in other competitors before a race about how you visualize food at the end of the finish line.  Whether its helping out at my local middle school's track meets or cross training with cross country to stay in shape for track and field I find myself gravitating to the sport.  I wouldn't describe myself as a very cocky person as my recent 4x100 meter teammate Diana Guido used to say, "I have to brag for Persis". I  feel that there is always  room for improvement. When I am older, I would like to become a doctor.  It has been something that I have wanted to do as long as I can remember.  This is why I am involved in the Estancia Medical Academy at my school and have taken ROP courses regarding the subject. As of now, I am a member  of  UCI's Biotechnology lab as an intern high school researcher and am very excited to start working on my own research projects in the fields of gene therapy and cancer! My family friends, and God are the most important things to me and I consider myself extremely lucky to have their full support! I feel like we are all the author's of our own lives and should never allow anybody else to hold the pen for us!