If you spend a few minutes talking with MiraCosta College student Bryce Wettstein, one thing becomes clear. She moves through life with intention.

That mindset has shaped her journey at MiraCosta College and carried her to the Olympic stage twice.

In 2024, Bryce competed at the Paris Olympic Games, advancing to the women’s skateboard park final and finishing sixth overall. The result matched her placement from the Tokyo 2020 Games and reflected her consistency at the highest level of the sport.

At MiraCosta College, Bryce balances academics with skateboarding, music, and creative exploration. On any given day, she might move from studying with classmates to recording music or training on her board. Each part informs the others.

“College helps me be a better skateboarder,” Bryce said. “Skateboarding lets me express myself creatively through music. And both make me appreciate what I’m learning in the classroom.”

That mindset was especially present during the Paris Games.

Going into her final prelim run, Bryce knew what she needed to qualify for finals. Instead of focusing on scores, she chose to stay present.

“I thought about the moment,” Bryce said. “I told myself, be where your feet are.”

The run earned her a place in the finals, where she briefly held a podium position before finishing sixth overall. After stepping off the course, she was met with hugs, including one from skateboarding legend Tony Hawk.

Following the competition, Bryce stayed at the venue to play a song she wrote for fans gathered outside, a moment that reflected her creative side as much as her athletic one.

“I am feeling so grateful to be in this moment,” she said. “I only hope today’s skating inspires young girls.”

Bryce grew up in Encinitas and began skateboarding at age five. While her career has taken her around the world, MiraCosta College has remained an important part of her life. She credits the college’s supportive professors and learning environment for helping her explore her interests and grow.

“MiraCosta has become a really special place for me,” Bryce said. “The professors are supportive, and the culture encourages curiosity.”

Now back in her routine as a MiraCosta College student, Bryce continues her studies with an academic interest in social psychology while balancing skateboarding and music. The Olympic stage may be global, but her growth happens in classrooms, studios, and everyday moments on campus.

Bryce’s story is not about medals or rankings. It is about learning how to stay present, make room for every part of who you are, and trust that progress does not have to be linear to be meaningful.

For MiraCosta students finding their own balance, her journey is a reminder that you do not have to choose just one path. You can keep learning, stay grounded, and build a life that reflects who you are.

At MiraCosta College, Bryce Wettstein is doing precisely that.