CEBASTIAN GENTIL

"When I walked into Hayward Field for the first time on Monday, I started to cry. I was not crying tears of sadness, but tears of joy. For the first time in 22 years I was proud of myself. The adversity and struggles that I have endured and pushed through to reach this point is mind-blowing. All I can say to anyone struggling with MENtal or physical issues is: please do not give up... The 2 years of my life prior to this year were absolutely living hell. Once I got back to campus this past year everything was different. The team mindset, the support from teammates and coaches, the general vibe of the team was truly unmatched. Immediately my MENtal health had fully skyrocketed. My constant, crippling anxiety and panic attacks started to diminish as I received more and more support from my peers. I need to thank absolutely everyone for all of the unwavering support. You guys saved my life. You all gave me a reason to be proud of myself. You all are the reason I am still alive."