If you’d told me I’d one day accept Michigan State University’s "Content Creator of the Year" and "NIL Athlete of the Year" awards, I would’ve laughed and walked away.
Not because I don’t admire people thriving as influencers, but because that just wasn’t me.
I’ve always been a little shy, the “do-my-talking-on-the-track” type.
My parents both ran at the University of Michigan, so earning a spot on the Spartans’ roster felt big enough.
Then NIL became a reality, and the possibilities—and nerves—kicked in.
Nervous to Press Post
I knew I had a modest following from high school, but actually posting about my life?
That made me nervous.
Very nervous.
Would people judge me? Think I was full of myself?
Eventually, I came to realize that this fear was holding me back from reaching my full potential.
This was an opportunity to help others, build a community, and grow my brand.
Why was I so concerned about what others thought?
I decided to put myself out there, and if people didn’t like it, that was their problem.
Skyrocketing Growth
Consistent sharing turned experimentation into momentum.
My “modest” following snowballed past 100,000 in just nine months—a bigger digital community than the entire MSU undergraduate population.
Brand partnerships followed, each one proof that authenticity can be an asset.
When Spartan Athletics named me "Content Creator of the Year" for reach, originality, and community engagement, then added "NIL Athlete of the Year" for my leadership in the space, I finally saw what others apparently had all along: A shy runner could also be a storyteller.
Showing The Real Story
Momentum didn’t shield me from setbacks.
A stress-reaction injury yanked me off the track and onto a stationary bike for weeks.
I could have gone silent, but hiding the low points felt dishonest.
So I filmed rehab clips—the frustrations, the doubts, everything.
That vulnerability let other athletes know they weren’t alone and reminded me I don’t have to put on a façade to connect.
I can just be me—and that’s the best feeling in the world.
The Future
Looking ahead, my aspirations with NIL are to continue building my following and creating strong content, even beyond my college years.
I also hope to secure larger brand deals, such as traveling and modeling for prominent companies.
Most importantly, I want to help inspire younger athletes who aspire to get into the NIL space.
I want to show them that it’s not something to be scared of, and that if they have big dreams and goals, they can achieve them.
I’m incredibly passionate about NIL and what the future holds for me in this space. I’ve only been seriously into content creation for a little under a year, and I’m amazed at how far I’ve come in such a short time.
I know there’s still so much more to learn and experience, and I’m excited to see where this journey takes me.
In the end, it’s not just about the number of followers or the brand deals.
It’s about using my platform to inspire and make a difference in the lives of others.
If I can do that, then all the challenges and obstacles I’ve faced along the way will have been worth it.
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