Spotlight on Students is a feature that showcases WYWLA students 

and cool experiences they've had and/or recognitions received.

This month, we highlight sophomore Sophie Hernandez-Lou and 8th-grader Riley Irons!

What first drew you to martial arts, and what keeps you committed now?

What first drew me to martial arts was the freedom of movement and the confidence it gave me. What keeps me committed is the continued work needed to defend myself, the assurance in my technique, and the improvement of my form.  

What moment in your martial arts journey taught you the most about yourself?

I really enjoy the challenge and the adrenaline of martial arts. I really enjoy sparring and having to fight to perform the technique.

How do you define discipline, and how has martial arts shaped that definition?

I define discipline as not cheating yourself or others. In martial arts, when you cheat your technique, you are building up muscle memory of how to do the move wrong, which can injure you in the long term. If you also give your partner no challenge, they will learn to perform their technique on a non-moving target that will not fight back, which is unrealistic and could lead to injury. 

What values from martial arts do you carry into your everyday life?

To never give up and to face every challenge with a smile on my face. 

What martial art do you practice, and what drew you to it?

My dojo mainly practices karate; however, we also do jiu-jitsu as well as some weapons. What drew me to it was the movement and the intensity of it. 

What’s one lesson martial arts has taught you outside of training?

One lesson martial arts has taught me is to always persevere, and that the challenge is most of the fun.

What belt or achievement are you most proud of?

I am currently in the adult class and have been for the past year or so, which I am really proud of being promoted early to.

What advice would you give someone thinking about starting martial arts?

To enjoy the challenge. At the end of the day, don’t get caught up in perfection because nobody is perfect.

How do you balance school with training?

I prioritize school over martial arts training, and so I will sometimes not go to martial arts and instead practice at home when I am free. 

Why does martial arts matter to you personally?

It is something that lets me relieve stress, and it is a personal challenge to me. 

Why do you think martial arts have shaped who you are today?

I think it has shaped me by teaching me to meet a challenge with a smile, and that you're not always going to have it easy. Sometimes you just have to raise your hands and fight the best you can. 

When did you first get into basketball and why?

I first got into basketball during 6th grade. My mom and I started watching the NC State University Women's Basketball team during March Madness. After that, we started watching the WNBA. I had never played basketball until I tried out in 7th grade. I somehow made the team and fell even deeper in love with the sport. 

What is your favorite drill in basketball?

I really like 3 versus 2 versus 1 drill (or the 3-2-1). It’s where 3 people play offense and attempt to score on 2 people who are playing defense. If someone scores or turns the ball over, they must run and try to prevent the two people who were just on defense from scoring.  

Do you get nervous before a game and how do you overcome it?

I do get nervous for super big games. especially when it's against a team we lost to last year or when they have been super good in the past. Because I am in the starting lineup, it feels like there is added pressure to do well.  Whenever I get nervous before a game, I usually read, turn my headphone volume up to the max, talk to my teammates, or text my friends, and try not to focus on my nerves.  

What do you do to celebrate after winning a game?

I celebrate winning a game by eating a piece of candy. I love sugar and I usually have training right after most of my games, so it's a way to reward myself for winning and to keep my energy up!

What is one challenge you have faced in basketball and how did you overcome it?

One challenge I have faced is being behind everyone in a lot of things. Because I started later than most people, many people had been playing for a lot longer than me, but my effort and my mentality have definitely helped me overcome a lot of obstacles. 

How do you bond with your teammates and how does this help your game play?

I bond with my teammates by talking with them. The more you talk and get to know people, the better you can predict what they want from you on the court. For example, I have teammates who don’t want to be talked to unless necessary on the court and/or on the bench. It also helps me better trust my teammates, like whenever I have a bad day or something happens at school, I know that they will always be there for me. 

What is your favorite part of basketball and why?

My favorite part of basketball is being on a team. I love the camaraderie and trust I have with my teammates. I have been on teams where no one talks to anyone, and it's just a bad environment, and really hard to win games with people you can’t trust cause you never talk to them. In basketball, you don’t have to be your teammates' best friends, but just being close to them has a huge impact on your game and energy. 

How do you balance your school and athletic life?

I try to get my work done in class if we have free time. I also will go to bed later if I need to, although that is a last resort. At Oberlin, the girls have the late practice, which starts at 4, so normally I have a little under 2 hours to get my homework done, but I don’t usually need it. Thank you, 8th-grade teachers!!!!!