“You can make the summer ride however you want to make it. You can make it about yourself, you can take a ton of pictures, and treat it as a vacation or a time to discover yourself. Or you can make it about others and take the opportunity to meet someone new, learn your story, and […]

Most of my interview for Texas 4000 was a nerve-wrecking, indistinguishable blur. Only one moment stands out clearly in my memory, and that was my response to the question, “What do you think about Texas 4000 will be most challenging for you?” I didn’t have to think twice before I replied succinctly, “Fundraising.” I don’t […]

Anyone that interacted with my dad knew that he loved to brag on his daughters.  You could find evidence of it on his Facebook page, in his office, or from his booming voice.  He called them his “proud papa moments.”  They could range from winning a national championship, getting into college, or simply doing well […]

As a leadership development program, Texas 4000 requires one to acquire a thorough understanding of what it takes to be a successful leader. One crucial aspect of effective leadership is self-awareness. In a team meeting, when asked to jot down a few of my strengths and weaknesses, the list of weaknesses flowed out easily. Too […]

“How in the world are you going to do that?” is the typical response you get when you tell someone that you’re crazy enough to hop on a bike heading from Austin to Alaska. I don’t think it’s a question that has gotten easier to answer throughout my time in the organization, at least not […]

2016 has not been kind. While this year has had its ups and downs, I have struggled to move forward in the face of adversity. The biggest struggles for me, one would think, would involve balancing school, work, and extracurricular activities. However, this year has been different. For the first time in my life, I […]

It’s been almost 11 months since November 5th, 2015. That was the day my teammates and I got the call announcing that we had been selected as members of the 2017 Texas 4000 team. That phone call was, and will always be, one of the happiest experiences of my life. Nearly 11 months later, the gravity […]

Life in Texas 4000 moves fast.  I feel like I blinked last Spring semester and all of a sudden I’m here, 9 months later, in the Fall semester before leaving for Alaska. September 2016 was all about creating, and getting used to, a weekly routine of meetings and workouts.  I’ve heard the ride itself is […]

My first 9 months in Texas 4000 may have been the most integral in getting me to Alaska, and I didn’t own a bike for a single day of it. It seems unlikely, right? That the longest student run charity bike ride in the world can be better prepared for in a classroom with my […]

It goes without saying (but I’m saying it anyways): a lot has happened between being selected for the 2017 team and now! Because I’m a hyper-visual creature, I’ve decided to update y’all via a photo-based retrospective of the last 11 months of my Texas 4000 (T4K) journey. November 2016: New rider picnic – after getting the news […]