A student at The First Academy for six years, Anna is enjoying her eleventh grade year as a hybrid student with The Virtual Academy. She made the decision to GO HYBRID because she wanted more flexibility in her daily schedule. As a professional athlete, her schedule allows her to keep up with her studies when she’s traveling and gets her on the water much earlier in the day. Anna has been water skiing since she was two years old and started competing when she was six. Anna competes in slalom, trick, and jump, but tricks is her favorite event. She’s able to travel all over the world competing and making friends. She also skis for the United States team and represents our country internationally. Her biggest accomplishment has been winning and setting a record at the World Championships, earning over 10,000 points in tricks. She believes the flexibility and extra time training each day has contributed to her great success this year in competitions.
Her parents describe Anna as humble, joyful, thoughtful, and hardworking. They tell me she has a unique ability to compartmentalize. When she is studying she has 100% focus on school work and when skiing she leaves all else behind and focuses. They are proud she does not define herself only as a skier. They believe this helps her keep things in perspective, both successes and failures. She’s also not afraid to take on big challenges. She chose to run cross-country last fall while continuing to pursue her goal of breaking the world record. This was a lot to take on, but TVA gave her the flexibility to do both. She learned to manage her time very well, a skill that will help her all through life.
Her teacher describes Anna as “an amazing student, but an even more amazing young woman. She is one of the leaders of the Comfort Club, whose purpose is to make everyone feel welcome and special. She is amazing at reaching out to others. As an athlete she is simply the greatest female skier of all time. She is the World Champion and World record holder. She does tricks that no other female has ever done. When you go to a tournament she is a rock star, skiing royalty! However, at TFA she is the most humble genuine student we have walking the hallways.”
Fun Facts about Anna
Sport: Professional Waterskier
Titles: 2015 World Trick Champion, 2016 Moomba Masters Trick Champion, 2016 Master Trick Champion, 2016 National Trick Champion, 2015/2016 US Open Trick Champion, 2016 Pan American, 2017 Junior Worlds Trick Champion, Women’s Trick World Record Holder
Favorite Movie: Now You See Me
Favorite Bible Verse: James 1:19, “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”
The Virtual Academy is pleased to have Anna as a student and an example for balancing school life and her professional sport. She is an extremely kind and soft spoken young lady and it’s such a joy to get to know her. We know there are very big things in her future and it’s so rewarding to be a part of her journey.
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