How has XC made you stronger as a person? And have you changed at all?

Anish Arumala (11): “I’m very different from when I joined cross country. I was very shy, and I didn’t know how to communicate with most ‘outsiders’ and people I didn’t really know. Cross country has made me stronger in an emotional way and cross country has given me positivity in life.”

Manny Rullan(11): “I think cross country is very figurative. See, in life you have problems; in cross country you have hills. So, when you learn to overcome those ‘hills’ in cross country, it gives you the motivation to do something with your life.”

Santiago Soto(10): “I think I am different because I think it’s allowed me to work better as a team and to also strengthen my skills in running in general.”

Have you gained any friends or allies in this sport?

Arumala: “Of course, I’ve made lots of friends. It’s a nice close-knit community; you get very close with the members. Most of the people in cross country are my friends.”

Rullan: “I have gained a lot of friends and allies in this sport, yeah. I mean when you’re running you have a lot of fun talking to different people and learning about them, and getting in shape while you do it!”

Soto: “Yes I have, I have a group of friends I hang out with all the time in cross country.”

How has the sport affected the way you see school, friends, etc.?

Arumala: “I guess cross country has given me a new outlook because I can now relate school with cross country. In cross country, there’s a lot of obstacles and mainly physical obstacles. Like when you’re running and there’s hills. The hills are tough, and I can relate that to school like AP tests or any kind of exams that are tough in any class. Cross country has taught me to me to not give up and push harder in school.”

Rullan: “It’s helped me manage my time better probably because you have to manage going to meets and doing homework and all that fun stuff.”

Soto: “Well, I think cross country teaches you about many social skills or, just, perseverance and stuff like that.”

This sport takes time, how does it affect your schooling or homework?

Arumala: “It does take a lot of time but I wake up early if it’s necessary from 4:30 to 5:30 to get work done. But, it’s worth it, because cross country is fun.”

Rullan: “Yes, like pretty much what I just said! It takes a lot of time with track season that has meets that go to 10:00 at night, in which you have to come home and get on that homework grind again.”

Soto: “I don’t think it affects me that much because practices are mainly in the morning. And the stuff we do mainly outside of school is just logging in our runs.”

Does your family notice any changes in you?

Arumala: “I’m not sure what my family thinks. But I’m pretty sure they’re happy. So happy in fact, they want me to cross country in college too, which will be a pretty big decision to make.”

Rullan: “I’m definitely more tired around the house now because we’re constantly getting up and being exhausted physically all day.”

Soto: “I don’t think they’ve seen me change too much. Running’s been more or less my thing.”

Have you grown to love the sport more and more over time?

Arumala: “Definitely, I love cross country. I love the people in it, and I’m pretty sure I’m going to continue running for the rest of my life. It’s my favorite sport.”

Rullan: “I think I’ve gotten a lot more comfortable with the sport, because you have good friends that you’re used to, you have new people that you’re meeting. It’s a whole lot of fun.”

Soto: “I think the team and the whole team aspect and everyone on the cross country team is really nice; which makes a lot of fun.”

Why cross country over football or swimming?

Arumala: “Cross country especially teaches you a lot of lessons, especially, in life. Football and all those sports are great and fun and everything; but with cross country, the people in cross country are extremely nice not mean at all. We have team dinners where you get to get even closer, and you feel like you’re a family. That’s why I love cross country, I feel like you can make friends easily. It’s not like most other sports.”

Rullan: “You can just run. Just run, and it’s easy to get good at with a lot of practice.”

Soto: “I think cross country is one the most competitive sports in this school at least compared to other, which makes it the strongest.”

What is your endgame? What do you hope to achieve when it’s all over?

Arumala: “Hopefully I can make it into varsity this year, or hopefully this season. Those are my goals for cross country, and I want to remember high school cross country especially because this is a very fundamental part of my life so far.”

Rullan: “I definitely plan on being one of the top people on varsity hopefully, and improving my speed overall. And, never settling for where I am.”

Soto: “I guess it just depends on how it goes. If I’m still doing good, I’d run cross country in college.”

Is cross country shaping you into the person you ultimately want to be?

Arumala: “Cross country has made me stronger physically and mentally. I feel like I am the person I want to be now. I’m seeing things in a different way now. If I do bad in anything, I try to learn from my mistakes. Now I focus on the positive things in life and not on the negative. I focus on what I have and not what I want.”

Rullan: “It’s made me into a more determined person with a lot more work ethic. Before, I did in the sport anyway, but there’s always room to improve.”

Soto: “I think I’ve learned to push through difficulties and obstacles, and be more patient. It takes months, years, but I am becoming the person I want to be.”