“Its not over, until its over.”

My name is Balthazar, I am 14 years old, and I have been fencing since I was 8. While I’m not on the strip, I enjoy playing the clarinet and playing chess with my younger brother. Through my fencing journey, I have learned skills such as persistence, patience, and discipline. Fencing not only helps me to grow physically, but it also teaches me important life lessons, including responsibility and maturity.

I believe that with what I have learned, I can share my experiences with others who don’t have access to similar outlets. Living in Chicago, just 10 minutes away from practice, I felt that the sport was easily accessible. During my summer in Peru, I was fortunate to visit a fencing club and witness firsthand how difficult their commute was and how they lacked even basic access to uniforms and equipment. I would like to collaborate with Fencing Forward to establish a partnership with one or two clubs in Lima, Peru, aiming to provide similar opportunities to those I have experienced.