My name is Irann Nayely Orosco, and I am a junior in high school.  Earlier this year, I went to Orlando, Florida, to compete for the National Championship in Mixed Martial Arts. I emerged from that event ranked second best in the United States in my weight division.  And with this ranking, I qualified for the World Championship and have been invited to represent the United States in Sofia, Bulgaria, between July 30 and August 1, 2021.

Mixed Martial Arts has had an incredible impact on my life.  As I began to enter my teen years, I really struggled to find myself and find my place in the world.  I was bullied in a way that truly wounded me.  Because of this experience, I have developed more compassion for others and treat everyone with the respect that I would want from them.

After a lot of thought and prayer, my mother encouraged me to try martial arts to keep me busy and hope for a positive outcome.  I was so excited by that idea! However, it was only after I had started my training and had a positive outcome that my parents found out from a psychologist friend of the family that he always recommended martial arts for struggling teens to help them learn self-esteem, self-respect, self-confidence, self-discipline, self-control and develop the ability to follow instructions as well as work and train with others in a respectful manner.  It turned out that MMA was exactly what I needed!  I discovered a real passion for Mixed Martial Arts: it’s what I want to get up and do for the rest of my life.  I learned that if I really apply myself, I can succeed at anything.  And I have applied myself: my sensei at Kihon MMA awarded me with the title, “Most Improved Stand-Up Martial Artist of the Year.”  I still have a lot to learn, but it is amazing how far I’ve come in the last year.  I have been training hard every day, both in my art and as a young woman.

I, therefore, ask you to please consider sponsoring me so that I can proudly represent the United States of America in Sofia, Bulgaria, this summer. I’d really appreciate your help; please donate to my GoFundMe site https://gofund.me/73da7409. If you have any questions, please call or text my mother, Gabriela F. Felt, at 707-720-8326.