ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Katie Yang

With a 35, The First Academy junior golfer Katie Yang led all Lady Royals in the team’s first tournament of the season against Bishop Moore Thursday, Aug. 31. Yang fell in love with golf because the sport allows her to be in control of her decisions on the golf course. She also enjoys analyzing a play and deciding what shots she wants to play for each hole.

How did you feel about being top performer at the tournament against Bishop Moore?
I was actually really excited to play, because this is the first match of the season. I wanted to start off (well), so I’m glad I did. I think (I) just focused and (made) sure I didn’t rush each shot and (thought) about what I (was going) to do.

What do you believe golf has taught you on and off the course? 
Definitely patience. Sometimes, you get a bad shot, and you have to learn to recover from that and not be frustrated or angry. 

What do you think about when you are in the middle of a competition? 
I try not to think that much, because it can distract me a lot. If I think a lot, I kind of get angry, sometimes. But, if I don’t think enough, then I lose focus. 

What was the most challenging thing for you to learn in golf? 
Patience, because especially as a kid, your emotions are kind of all over the place, so you can’t really control them. So, just learning how to control your emotions definitely helps you improve your game.

What is your favorite hobby? 
Sleeping. 

What are three things you would take with you to a deserted island? 
I would take water, food and a tent. 

What is your favorite movie? 
As a kid, I really liked the movie “Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper.” That was the one I watched the most as a child. 

If you could choose one person you admire to have dinner with, who would it be? 
Maybe Tiger Woods; that’d be cool. I kind of just want to hear what he was thinking when he was in his prime. 

Looking back, what would you say to your 10-year-old self? 
Try anything. If you want to play this sport, play it. If you want to try this food, try it. If you want to be friends with this person, be friends with that person. 

If you could write a letter to your future self, what would you say? 
I would want to ask what job I have, maybe how much money I’m making, if I’m still friends with my current friends, and where I live. 

What is your biggest fear?
Either falling or losing someone I love. 

What is your favorite type of music? 
Something on the slower side but not ballads, like a chill song. Maybe just any NewJeans songs — they are pretty chill. 

Who is your favorite Disney character? Why? 
Baymax; I think he is really cute. I kind of want to just hug him, because he looks really soft. 

If you could have a superpower, what would it be and why? 
Mind-reading. I want to know what people think all the time. 

What are three places you’d like to visit? Why? 
Paris, Los Angeles and South Korea. I want to try their food — all three places have really good food — and they have a lot of variety. 

If you could go back in time to a specific period of history, which one would it be and why? 
History is kind of scary. Maybe when the group of Americans (colonists) dumped tea into the Boston Harbor to protest against tax (on tea). 

What color would you say represents your personality? Why?
Blue. It’s a quieter color, a cool color. 

If you could be an animal for a day, which one would you be and why? 
I’d like to be a bird, because I’d like to fly.