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MY STORY:
Jessica was never considered the athletic or healthy type. She grew up with donuts for breakfast and ice cream for dinner. In addition to having a tasty but unhealthy diet, Jessica was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at 16 months old, which kept her out of the athletic arena. She was taking large amounts of medicine a day and had to undergo surgery in her teens. Once she entered college, Jessica took up swimming and tennis. In graduate school, Jessica moved up to a master swim team. This team was the inspiration for Jessica to try a triathlon. She has been training ever since. With a masters in health education, Jessica moved to Nevada for a better training environment. She currently teaches high school health and coaches the boy’s track and Cross Country teams.
Jessica’s upbringing had a big impact on how she lives her life today. Once she beat her battle with rheumatoid arthritis, Jessica was dedicated to taking care of her body. She remembers the countless times that she was told that she would be unable to every compete due to her illness and uses that as a fuel in her triathlons. In addition to being a role model to children with rheumatoid arthritis, Jessica is also a role model at her school. Being a coach and teacher, Jessica serves as a positive role model to her team and students!
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