Kiara P. Anguiano

I came to Virginia after being recruited by the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) to play water polo. What really drew me in was that VMI isn’t an ordinary college—its military structure, strong sense of discipline, and tight-knit community stood out to me. It offered the chance to keep competing in water polo at a high level while also challenging myself academically and personally in a way that a traditional campus couldn’t.

Over my time there, I grew to genuinely love Virginia. The people, the pace of life, and the sense of history all made a strong impression on me, and by the time I graduated, I knew I wasn’t ready to leave. That connection to the state is ultimately what persuaded me to stay in Virginia for law school.

Truck and tractor pulls are incredible to watch. The idea is simple but thrilling—vehicles hook up to a heavy sled and pull it down a dirt track, and the goal is to see who can drag it the farthest before their power or traction gives out. As the sled moves, its weight shifts forward, creating more resistance and making the pull progressively harder.

There are lots of different classes, ranging from street-legal trucks to highly modified machines built specifically for pulling. Each class has its own rules and weight limits, so you get a wide variety of engines, setups, and pulling styles. Some trucks rely on raw horsepower, while others focus on torque and grip. What makes the events so exciting is the combination of roaring engines, flying dirt, and the suspense of watching a truck fight for every extra foot.