Taylor Cole

At the age of thirteen, my life changed in an instant when I lost my father unexpectedly. Experiencing such a profound loss at a young age was overwhelming, and for a long time I struggled to understand and manage the emotions that came with grief. I felt anxious, emotionally drained, and unsure of how to process everything I was feeling. During this time, I discovered the gym—not initially as a physical outlet, but as a mental and emotional refuge.

I fell in love with weight training through push, pull, and leg days, often finishing with the stairmaster. Now, as a smaller woman I am stepping into powerlifting. I’m driven to break the stigma around what strength looks like. I want to show that strength isn’t defined by size—it’s built through consistency, confidence, and courage in the gym.

If I were given $20,000, I would invest it directly in my education and future career. As I enter the fourth and final year of my undergraduate degree, this support would allow me to focus on preparing strong medical school applications while maintaining the balance required to perform at my best academically and physically. Having the opportunity to use these funds would help guide me toward my goals while prioritizing consistency, and resilience that both fitness and medicine demand.