Starting swim in late May of 2021 at the age of 16 had put me further behind all my teammates. swimming became a game of tag for me in which I was constantly "it" and trying to catch up and reach everyone else, just a big game of chasing and tag. I feel that this still applies to me as I'm always trying to chase/ catch everyone who had started this sport early on and had the financial abilities to do this sport unlike me. despite these facts, i have never once stopped trying and putting everything i could to enjoy and excel in this sport. from starting swim the summer of my sophomore year unable to swim a 100 free, to being on the state team for both my junior and senior year, i feel like I'm finally catching up slowly and I'm more than ready and capable to improve and try for whatever team I'm on as long as I'm given the chance to prove what i can do.