Hey, I’m Jasmine Gong. I was born in Plano, Texas but spent most of my life in Rockville, Maryland. During this time, joining the wrestling team played a influential role in my development.
When I first started wrestling, it was difficult learning the technicalities of a new sport while desiring a sense of belongingness with my male teammates. Motivated to improve, I took advantage of every opportunity to get better, eventually captaining the team. As I look back on this experience, my most significant takeaway has been gaining the ability to advocate for myself and others. That's what I hoped to do by creating Duke’s Women’s Wrestling Club. Not only does it aim to empower women through the sport, but it has also been an avenue to connect with the local girls wrestling community as well.
Music has also played a prominent role in my life. I'm currently a drummer on the worship team for the RUF ministry and am also a DJ on campus. While music has been one of my avenues for exploration, pursuing a degree in psychology has been another avenue for exploration. Academically, I'm interested in child development and criminology. In the future, I'd love to pursue something that combines the two.
Being inspired by the ambition, resilience, and authenticity of other women has been a crucial element of my wrestling journey. Thus, I am continually grateful to be a member of the Baldwin Scholars community. Whether it's my cohort, the younger members, or the alumni network, there's always something to be inspired by and someone willing to lend a hand.