I’ve never been one to go with the grain or follow the most popular trends. I’m the type of person who makes her own path, seeks new challenges, and learns and grows from her mistakes.

Growing up in Prescott, Wis., my classmates labeled me as “the smart kid.” I wasn’t the most popular or the greatest at sports. Frankly, I was a klutz and injured myself more times than I can count. But in middle school, when all the other girls were into dance or volleyball, I decided to take riding lessons – and for me, that’s when everything changed.