Leaving home is never easy.
It’s a leap into the unknown—a decision that tests your courage and commitment to your dreams.
I’ve made that leap twice now—once across my own country, and once across the world.
The first time, I was just 16 years old.
I packed my bags in Jõhvi, a small town in northeastern Estonia, and moved to Tallinn, the capital.
It wasn’t because I didn’t love my hometown—I did.
But Jõhvi didn’t have the kind of track and field scene I needed to reach the next level.
If I wanted to pursue my dream of becoming a great heptathlete, I had to leave the comfort of my community and the closeness of my family.
At the time, I thought that would be the hardest move I’d ever make.
But a few years later, I said goodbye all over again—this time to my entire country.
Moving to the United States to compete for the University of Oklahoma was an entirely different kind of leap.
It wasn’t just about athletics—it meant adjusting to a new culture, language, and way of life.
As daunting as it was, I knew in my heart that I had to go.
I had a dream to chase, and I was willing to follow it wherever it led.
Looking back now, I can say with complete confidence: it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
Where It All Started
As a kid, I was always moving, always doing something.
I tried everything from soccer and volleyball to figure skating, art school, and singing. I didn’t like sitting still, and I loved to compete. But as I got older, I realized that I needed to focus my interests if I wanted to reach my full athletic potential.
That focus led me to track and field.
I was drawn to the heptathlon because it reflected who I am—versatile, determined, and always up for a challenge.
I liked knowing that my results depended entirely on me.
Every point, event, and second was mine to own.
Soon it became clear that if I wanted to go as far as possible as a heptathlete, I’d have to leave my small hometown to train in Tallinn.
It wasn’t an easy decision at 16, but it was the right one.
In Tallinn, I gained access to better facilities, tougher competition, and a clearer view of what my future could look like.
Those years helped me grow as both an athlete and a person.
I became more independent, more focused, and more confident that this was the life I wanted.
A Jump Across the World
Eventually, my ambitions led me across the ocean.
I had long dreamed of studying and competing in the United States, and when I started receiving offers from universities, it felt like that dream was within reach.
And when I started talking to the University of Oklahoma, something clicked.
The coaches believed in me, and the team felt like a family. It wasn’t just about track—it was about belonging.
I trusted my gut, and I chose OU.
And that feeling? It was right.
But I won’t pretend like the transition was seamless.
As you can imagine, Norman is quite different from where I grew up.
I vividly remember calling my mom, upset because the cucumbers didn’t taste the same—I genuinely felt homesick about it.
The way people communicated was also different. There was more small talk, more openness, and more friendliness.
In Estonia, we’re usually more direct and less conversational.
Yet, despite these contrasts, I felt warmly welcomed.
My coaches and teammates treated me like family, bridging those 5,000 miles and making Norman feel a bit more like home.
That support changed everything for me.
My first year, I redshirted to give myself time to adjust. I needed that space to find my rhythm, take care of my body, and learn how to use all the incredible resources around me—nutritionists, sports psychologists, trainers.
Slowly but surely, I found my groove.
A Breakthrough Year
In 2023, something incredible happened: I won the NCAA outdoor heptathlon.
Heading into the competition, I wasn’t the favorite. But I trusted my training, knew my potential, and committed to giving my absolute best.
Staying focused and present paid off.
Winning that title was more than a personal victory.
It was validation.
I proved to myself that all the moves, goodbyes, and sacrifices were worth it.
Since then, I’ve continued to push myself, achieving personal bests in both the heptathlon and pentathlon and earning All-America honors.
I’ve been lucky enough to have my family watch me compete in person.
Even my high school teacher back in Estonia wore an OU shirt and shared my achievements on Instagram.
Representing the University of Oklahoma is an honor I don’t take lightly.
Being a Sooner has shaped who I am as a person and athlete, helping me grow beyond what I thought possible.
That pride goes with me every time I compete.
Looking Ahead
Now, as a graduate, I find myself at another turning point.
My dreams have grown even bigger—I want to compete professionally, represent Estonia on the world stage, and be in Los Angeles for the 2028 Olympics.
I know those are ambitious goals, and I know they won’t come easily.
But after all I’ve been through, I trust myself and am ready to embrace this next challenge.
Leaving home—twice—wasn’t easy.
Yet every leap I’ve taken has led me to places where I grew stronger and discovered more of who I am.
I’ll always carry gratitude for those experiences and for OU being part of my story.
No matter where life takes me next, I’ll always be a Sooner at heart.
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