“In college, I was failing almost every class I was taking my freshman year. I was having difficulty in managing my time; I was just overwhelmed. Even though I knew I was smart and knew I was good enough, at that point, I doubted all of it because I struggled to handle my sport, classes and social life all at once.”

British equestrian athlete and showjumper

Jessica Mendoza is a British equestrian athlete and showjumper. She rose into the world’s top 100 riders and, in spring 2015, into the top 10 British showjumpers. She is known for her work in competitive showjumping and for writing regularly for the British monthly magazine PONY. Her public profile is tied to equestrian sport and to her commentary on it.