09/04/2025
🥇From the lab to the Ironman
🏃♀️🚲🏊 For Connor Quiroz, University of Washington masters student at SAFS, he recently completed an IRONMAN in Sweden, consisting of 140.6 miles of biking, swimming, and running.
💬 “The mindset I had wasn’t an Ironman mindset, but one that happened to be constructed through Ironman training that I now apply to everything else in my life,” .quiroz said. And this is where his education at SAFS comes in. Connor shared how it is purposeful for him to see what he’s capable of in each of the different aspects of his life—be that academics, athletics, or something else.
🔬 “Going all in on myself eliminates any doubts I previously had, allowing me to focus on my graduate school goal of producing meaningful and impactful research and outreach,” he said. Connor uses global databases such as the new Aquatic Resource Trade in Species (ARTIS) to study how climate impacts seafood security around the world and how we can build resilience moving forward. He’s also involved with public outreach, including speaking with people about their seafood concerns to better understand how food information can help improve people’s lives.
🐟 “Taking a step back and recognizing that graduate school isn’t my entire life, but instead a complementing part of my life, has allowed me to apply this mindset and start thinking more creatively towards my passions and goals in graduate school and in life,” he shared.
⚖️ Life is about balance—it’s a phrase we commonly hear. And Connor agrees. “Whether it’s academics, athletics, or any aspiration, just go for it. Enjoying the work is what matters most and believing in yourself makes the hard parts possible and the best learning experiences. Be your own best friend and let that shine through every challenge — especially when you feel like you’re the only one there. You’ll be surprised how much further you can go, and how much more you’ll appreciate the people around you.”
