Austin "AJ" Brooks RowDallas Fundraiser

When I think back to my own rowing journey, one theme stands out: desire will always trump ability. Everyone can do it, but few will — and most won’t.

I started rowing in 2004 as a 8th grade student. I wasn’t the biggest or the strongest, but rowing gave me an outlet, a community, and eventually a purpose. Through the years, I faced loss, setbacks, and moments of doubt. Coaches told me I wasn’t cut out for the sport. Illness struck right before a national championship. I had every reason to walk away. But I didn’t.

Instead, I learned:

• 2005–2006 // Catalyst — How heartbreak can fuel relentless drive.

• 2006–2007 // Facing Adversity — How rejection can spark resolve. 

• 2008–2009 // Endurance — How discipline built the foundation for back to back National Championships in the Men's Varsity 8+

• 2010–2013 // Leadership, Teamwork, Passion, Legacy — How sacrifice and resilience carried me through four undefeated seasons at the University of Washington and a collegiate record in the Men's Varsity 8+

By the time I graduated, I had become a six-time National Champion, never losing a race in those six years. But the real lesson wasn’t about medals. It was about what rowing gave me: the chance to discover who I could become when I refused to give up.

That is exactly what RowDallas is here to provide.

For many of our students, opportunity isn’t a given. Rowing may seem out of reach — but through RowDallas, it becomes the great equalizer. Just like me at 14 years old, they step into a boat unsure of what they’re capable of. And with every stroke, they build endurance, confidence, resilience, and the belief that they too can become champions — in rowing and in life.

This North Texas Giving Day, your gift fuels more than practices and equipment. It fuels possibility. It ensures that every student, regardless of background, has the chance to write their own story of endurance, teamwork, and victory.

Because when desire is given a chance, champions are made...and I'd like you to trust me on that!