RTDM: Paula Cooper
Paula Cooper
Colorado State University Student / Athlete
Steamboat Springs, Colorado
We want to get to know you! Briefly tell us about yourself: Where you came from, where you've been and how you're living your dream?
I was born in raised in Colorado between my family's ranches and our house in Steamboat Springs. I spent my early childhood skiing, traveling, playing tennis, riding horses, hunting, and fly fishing. As I grew older my primary focus became skiing, and my parents enrolled me at the Vail Ski and Snowboard Academy where I attended middle and high school. I went on to win nationals three times in skiing, and was named to the U.S. Ski Team in 2016 to represent our country at the Youth Olympic Games in Olso, Norway. The Youth Olympics occurs every four years and is sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee. I won a silver medal in the ladies ski half pipe. I decided to retire from professional skiing soon after to pursue my other interests. I continued to ski for fun my last year of high school, while playing varsity tennis as number two singles, and high school rodeoing. I now attend Colorado State University on a rodeo scholarship where I compete in two events with my three horses. I am majoring in Agriculture Business with the hopes of working for a beef cattle company in international relations, where I can use my skill of speaking fluent Russian and Spanish. In the summers I work full time at a ranch taking care of 20 head of horses and 200 black angus cattle.
How do you define success?
Success to me is happiness, making a positive impact on people's lives, and the opportunity to do what I love everyday.
What did it take to make your dream happen and when did you know you had arrived?
I have been fortunate enough to accomplish several of my goals, but still have a long ways to go. I knew I had fulfilled my dream in skiing when I walked in the opening ceremonies at the Youth Olympic Games, but I knew the final destination was when I won silver. I had played tennis my whole life, and making varsity my junior and senior year of high school showed me my hard work payed off. Now that I am on a rodeo scholarship at CSU and have a good team of horses, and I know what it takes to accomplish athletic goals. In rodeo my goal is to qualify for the National College Finals Rodeo in Wyoming. I practice everyday, keep my horses in good health, and stay disciplined in school.
What are you most proud of? Go ahead, boast a little!
I am most proud of my skiing accomplishments, my rodeo scholarship at Colorado State, and my ability to speak fluent Russian and Spanish.
What was your biggest obstacle/fear and what was your turning point?
My biggest fear was failure, but I learned that it is part of the road to success. My freshman year of high school I had a low GPA and it was my least successful year in sports. The feeling of being that low pushed me to rise and find tremendous success the rest of high school.
What’s the best advice you’d give to a younger you?
Fate loves the fearless!
How do you stay motivated and purposeful when you feel overwhelmed?
I have several mantras I live by and song lyrics help me make it through hard days. I have learned how to perform self therapy and talk my self through difficult times. I face a lot of days that are overwhelming because of the responsibility of three horses, college classes, performing well at the college rodeos, and doing well at practice. If I am in a situation that is overwhelming, I take three deep breaths and observe my surroundings. I ask my self what I can be grateful for in that moment, and how I can do my best to succeed in that moment in time. For example, if I am at practice and having a challenging time with one of my horses and feel the pressure of my coach and team watching, I take a breath and tell my self how amazing it is to have the opportunity to ride a horse in the first place. When I am by myself and feel overwhelmed after a hard day filled with horse responsibilities and homework I listen to uplifting songs.
Tell us a time when a perceived failure was actually a blessing in disguise or served you in a surprising way.
When I was in high school I failed at being a good friend to my best friend, but after learning what I did wrong I was able to grow from it and become a better friend.
What is your favorite vice/guilty pleasure/strange habit? Come on now, we all have them!
I love cleaning! I clean and organize for fun.
What's the smartest investment you’ve made for yourself?
Good horses and a good summer job.
What’s MOST important to you right now?
Rodeo
Share 1-2 books you've given as gifts:
What have you learned to say no to?
Drugs
What's something most people would never guess about you?
I can gut and quarter an elk, and I can clean and cook a fish.
Follow Paula:
Instagram: @paulacooperr
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