Washington State Cougar Athletic Fund

As a kid growing up, I knew I loved sports and I knew I had opportunity to play sports, that was not in question. Sports were the heart of my family and that is what we did together. Without Title IX, for my sisters, they may not have had the opportunity to play sports and my childhood might have looked a lot different. I know theirs would have.

My sisters’ success inspired me to improve my athletic ability. If they didn’t have that opportunity to compete, I would not have grown and learned from their hard work.

It is hard to believe that Title IX only happened 50 years ago. I am fortunate I am at Washington State University with such a rich history of Title IX and so many strong pioneers who paved the way. I love attending women’s sporting events and do everything I can to support them. They work just as hard, if not harder, than anyone else and they deserve respect. We have a long way to go there, too.

Through Title IX, women were given an opportunity to prove to the world that women deserve equal opportunity in sport and now there is more power in being a female athlete than ever before. Although we have made strides, progress still needs to forge ahead. I know for a fact that I wouldn’t be the athlete I am today because of how much I was pushed athletically by my sisters and their access to compete in the sports they love.