Fencing has always been an activity that is especially important to me, both because of the nature of the sport and the intellectual and physical challenge it provides me, but also because of the sense of community I’ve built around it. I’ve fenced at the same club since the 3rd grade, and every year since then I’ve had the amazing opportunity to grow and develop as a fencer with the help of my coaches and alongside my clubmates. One experience that stands out to me as an example of these bonds of community happened during my Junior year of high school. A fencer a few years younger than me in my club had experienced an unexpected defeat at a tournament the day before. I remember noticing that his style was clearly shaken and he was having
