NYC Gazette

Zara Sinha, a student at NYU Tandon School of Engineering, provides a glimpse into the life of a student athlete through her experiences captured on film. As part of the NYU Women's Fencing Team, Zara spends significant time with her teammates beyond their athletic commitments.

The team recently achieved victories against Vassar College, Sacred Heart University, and New Jersey Institute of Technology. In between bouts at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY, Zara's teammates Karina Dyner, Lily Papadakis, Lefu K. Chen, Azniv Basralian, and Sophia Dondisch were seen preparing for their matches.

Practices often involve stretching sessions led by new assistant coach Isis Washington. During these times, they discuss strategies that have been effective or challenging during competitions.

Social gatherings are also an integral part of their experience. "We ate too much cake and not enough veggies," Zara remarked about a Thanksgiving potluck with her teammates. The team also celebrated birthdays together to strengthen their bond outside of practice.

Zara balances her athletic pursuits with academic responsibilities as a business and technology management major. She participates in entrepreneurship classes where students create startups and pitch ideas.

In addition to fencing and academics, Zara enjoys visiting Brooklyn Flea in Dumbo on weekends for bagels and coffee. Her community involvement includes volunteering with freshman fencers at Flatbush Cats' holding space where they assisted with organizing tasks and interacted with animals.

Reflecting on a recent tournament at Vassar College against Temple University, Zara noted the camaraderie among teammates: "We had a tiring but fun day fencing as a team and encouraging each other."

Zara also dedicates time to studying finance with peers at Dibner Library. "The library is open fairly late so we all usually study together after class," she said.

Maintaining close relationships is important for Zara and her teammates as they navigate the demands of being student athletes while fostering connections beyond the sport.