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May 23, 2024
Tell? Us a bit about yourself.
My name is Shannon Gao, and I am a junior in high school. I row on the New Trier High School Rowing Team and am a member of the AANHPI community.
Who is an inspirational person in the sport or your life, and why?
To be honest with you, this question really had me thinking a lot about role models within the rowing community. After thinking about this question and talking to some friends, I realized that I didn't have many role models within the rowing community that I wanted to look up to, because there weren't many rowers that looked like me. However, I really respect and look up to my very successful coach, Bryan, who is part of the AANHPI community, who continues to inspire me with his wise words and helps me to become the best human being and rower I can be every day.?
What do you envision for the sport of rowing 10 years from now?
I envision that rowing will become more accessible to people regardless of their racial/gender/economic backgrounds. As rowing becomes more accessible, I imagine the rowing community becoming increasingly diverse and inclusive.
?What is something you wish people in your boathouse understood about you/ about being AANHPI in rowing??
Something I wish people could understand about me being an AANHPI rower is that there aren't many people who look like me, so I often feel like an outsider. The feeling of being an outsider leads me to work twice as hard to prove athletically that I belong here and to beat the stereotypes of my race. But it has also led me to believe that I have to give up some of my culture in order to be successful. Additionally, because there aren't many AANHPI rower role models, I feel like I am working towards something I cannot see, which has also led me to work twice as hard to be my own role model and for the younger rowers that may be going through the same experience as I am.
What advice would you give to a person who may be joining this sport for the first time?
Rowing is the most fair sport there is. The amount and quality you put in the amount and quality of results that will come out. So, working hard is genuinely the key to success in the rowing world. Additionally, rowing is a process, it isn't all about the results. There are so many components to being a good rower, rom the catch to a good 2k, that it's impossible to become the best overnight. It is also just as important to stay patient and learn to embrace the process and its highs and lows to become a better rower.
This year's theme for AANHPI Heritage Month is advancing leaders through innovation. How can the rowing world be more innovative about inclusion?
I talked with many people about this. A theme that often comes up is income and diversity training. I believe the rowing world should become more accessible to those who may not be able to afford expensive unis or regatta fees. Additionally, I think coaches should learn about the values of important holidays of different cultures and allow athletes to take time off for important holidays.
