'She Works Hard With Everything She Does': Julia, Star Student Athlete

— We all know student athletes who also bring their A-game to other parts of their lives.

Here at Patch, we've launched an initiative to help recognize these heroes making a difference in their communities. We’re working to let all your neighbors know the individual stories behind the leaderboard.

This submission comes from Lindsay, who nominated her daughter, Juliet, of Manchester.

What sport does the star student athlete play?

Swimming

Why do you believe the star student athlete should be recognized?

Juliet was born with a disability called Trisomy 21 /Down Syndrome. She currently is in her final senior year of high school. She has always tried to find an activity that she has felt fully included in and able to feel proud of herself in her accomplishments. She had joined the Special Olympics of Toms River's swim team when she was 10 years old. She has been a part of this team for 11 years. She went from being afraid to swim in the water to winning gold medals every year at her swim meets. Her swim strokes are freestyle and breast stroke. Every year is the New Jersey Special Olympics Summer Games, in which she received this past year a gold medal. It becomes hard for her to feel included at school and make friends at times. But when she is with her swim team and participates in swim meets she feels No. 1 regardless of what place she comes in at. While at school she works on her vocational training at her vocational technical school, working on her independent and work skills, so she can be best at her everyday life when she leaves school. She also has a job at a retirement center in which the residents and coworkers boast about how hard she works and is a friendly face to all. Every day she works hard with everything she does and her family and friends are so proud of her in all of her accomplishments every day!

What's one thing you want everyone to know about the star student athlete?

She can accomplish anything.

Keep up the great work, Juliet!

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Know an outstanding student athlete? Nominate them as a Patch Star Student Athlete.