I’m not averse to challenges. In a way, I think I thrive off of doing hard shit.⁣ As many of you know, for the past month I’ve been working on my PhD comprehensive exams — the exams that push me into the “candidacy” stage of working on a PhD. This consisted of three weeks of non-stop writing, answering specific questions about soil and microbes and nitrogen and some other cool science stuff. It’s harder than it sounds, trust me!⁣

Then, yesterday, I went in for my oral exam.⁣ I’m so happy to announce that I PASSED. My hard work paid off and I’m well on my way to becoming a dirt doctor!⁣

Oh, and by the way, I raced my first pro enduro at the Diamond Hill Eastern States Cup between turning in my written exam and taking my oral exam! Given my crazy schedule, I didn’t get to pre-ride the stages and basically went into the race blind! I got to practice some of the bigger features a few weeks ago, but that was about it. It was a hard race with pretty ugly and wet conditions. I didn’t expect to place well, and I definitely didn’t. But I’m so stoked for the rest of the season and growing as a rider. I’m looking forward to learning from all the super fast and rad women that I get to race with.⁣