CLAREMONT, Calif. – Practicing in the water with her teammates around her has always felt like home to the Webb Schools senior, Sydney Wu. 

That could be because Wu attends a boarding school, but if you ask her, she'll say it's because these girls have become more than just teammates. 

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“Knowing that I have all those families to call home is something that I’ll take forever," she explained. 

Having a family environment is especially important for Wu, who didn't have your typical upbringing. She grew up in four different countries. 

“Growing up in so many different places has kind of been hard," Wu said, "because you meet people and sometimes have to leave them.”

But throwing herself into sports and various school activities have helped ground her. Not only does she invest her time in three different sports, but Wu also serves as the student body president and editor in chief of her school paper. 

"I just like to throw myself into a challenge," she said. "And to be completely honest it’s the best part of my day.”

“A lot of the activities I do, they all have their own distinct families and being a part of each of them has really made me who I am.”

With the ability to balance a variety of different roles and activities, while maintaining her grades, Wu is the perfect example of what a scholar athlete is. 

She is hoping to continue keeping that alive in her next journey through college.