For as long as she can remember, senior Reena Hsieh has been an athlete. From swimming in her early years to later discovering her passion for running, the Arcadia High School senior’s journey has been defined by discipline, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to both academics and athletics. Now, after years of hard work, Hsieh will be taking her talents to Columbia University in the fall.

“I’ve been running recreationally since elementary school, mostly at the annual track and field meets hosted by Arcadia,” Hsieh recalls. “However, I didn’t start taking the sport seriously until my freshman year. Before that, I had been swimming my whole life and always assumed I’d continue in high school. But my brother did cross country, and I really didn’t want to take PE in the fall, so I somehow ended up signing up for cross country—and it turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”

That decision led Hsieh to a sport that not only shaped her physically but also became a source of camaraderie for her. The seniors on the team during her freshman year played a crucial role in her development, guiding her through both the sport and the transition to high school life. Yet it is without a doubt that Hsieh’s rapid improvement in cross country set the foundation for her collegiate aspirations.

“At the start of my sophomore year, I had some major breakthrough races and saw significant improvements from the previous season,” she said. “I wasn’t at recruiting standards yet, but I was improving quickly, which gave me the confidence to start considering running in college as a real possibility.”

Balancing a rigorous academic schedule with athletics is no easy feat, but Hsieh has pretty much mastered the art of time management.

“Being a student-athlete can be challenging at times, but having a solid routine makes all the difference,” she explains.

Hsieh states that one of the biggest lessons she learned is discipline and knowing how to prioritize what’s most important, like practices and homework, before making time for other things. This strategy allows Hsieh to always fit a run into her schedule, no matter how busy she is.

“Over the past four years, I’ve learned to make sacrifices, such as not going out with friends before a meet so I can be well-rested for the next day, ” said Hsieh.

While sacrifices are hard, her hard work paid off. By the end of her junior cross country season, her times had reached a highly competitive level, drawing the attention of college recruiters.

“Throughout the season, I had already been contacted by some schools, which helped me better understand what coaches were looking for and how the process worked,” she said.

“Once cross country season ended, I began reaching out to colleges I was interested in. I took my first official visit during junior year and two more at the beginning of senior year. Every school I visited was incredible, but in the end, I chose Columbia,” said Hsieh.

For Hsieh, Columbia was the perfect fit and checked all of the boxes for her. Not only is Hsieh in love with the location and outstanding academics, but she strongly believes it will be a place of growth for her.

“When I visited New York City a couple of years ago, I fell in love with its energy. Being at Columbia means I’ll have countless opportunities to grow, both as an athlete and a student, and I’m really excited for that,” said Hsieh.

As she prepares for this next chapter, Hsieh reflects on the people who have supported her journey—her teammates, who push her to be better every day, and her parents, whose unwavering encouragement has been huge in her success.

“My team is definitely my biggest source of motivation. No matter how I race, good or bad, I know they’ll always be there for me. Cross country isn’t just an individual sport; it’s also a team sport. They’ve always supported me, and just seeing them at my meets makes me want to run even faster,” said Hsieh.

With her future set within the Ivy League, Hsieh is ready to take on new challenges, both in the classroom and on the track. And if her journey so far is any indication, she’s bound to leave a lasting impact at Columbia, just as she has at Arcadia High School. We wish Hsieh luck as she continues her passion at Columbia. Go Bears!