Getting to Know: Jade Santos-Barrera
Jade Santos-Barrera is a Flag Football State Champion and a Rugby State Champion for Penn.
How does it feel to be a flag football and rugby state champ?: Being a State champ in both sports makes me really proud of myself in a way I haven’t before. It’s really opened my eyes and has shown me my true potential as well as all of my teammates.
What’s the most important lesson that sports has taught you?: The most important thing that I’ve learned is that you can’t let one thing rip away what you love. After going through two different ACL tears I’ve learned to keep pushing through and to not give up. There’s always a light at the end of every tunnel.
What do you love about your sports?: The thing I love most about my sports are all of my teammates and coaches. Everyone is very welcoming and so understanding, especially in rugby. These are definitely some of my closest friends and I hope to hold these friendships forever. Along with this, my coaches are all so supportive and never make me feel bad for making a mistake. They push me to achieve my goals and help me dream bigger.
What advice would you give a freshman about Penn Athletics?: Some advice I would give freshmen is to try new things. I had never played rugby before in my entire life but when I joined I truly felt like I found a home. You never know if you’ll like something until you try it.
What athlete (at any level) do you look up to and why?: I really look up to Sammy Sullivan. Even though we play different rugby positions, she’s really fun to watch and played very well during the Olympics.
What is your favorite food and why?: My favorite food is spaghetti because there’s so many options and it’s just good!
If you could meet any living person, who would that be and why?: I would want to meet Adele because she’s been my favorite artist since I was little and she cares a lot about the people around her.
What are your plans for the future? Are you attempting to play sports in college? If so, where?: I plan to go to college (most likely Purdue) and major in kinesiology. While I’m there I’d like to keep playing rugby and see how far that takes me. After I graduate if I’m no longer playing rugby I’d want to become a firefighter.
Who has helped you the most along the way? How has their help made you who you are today?: After both of my ACL injuries, my rugby team was who supported and kept me going. They never let me give up and still included me in any way possible. I would say my coach (Corrin Adamo), has definitely been my biggest supporter. She was there for me when times were tough and she never failed to check up on me.
During your athletics, what do you do or what is the mindset when times get tough and you need to keep pushing through?: I always tell myself to play for my loved ones. Whether that’s my parents, siblings, friends, or literally anyone. It helps me stay motivated and helps me look for someone to make proud. I also think about everything that I had to go through to make it possible for me to be here and try to never hang my head.