Personal Statement
Diving has changed my life in many aspects from my physical abilities to building a stronger character and turning myself into a better person. Going from not making finals at the state championship freshmen year of high school, to placing second, has made me realize different training habits I had and how they influence the outcomes of competitions. Diving has brought me to realize my strengths and weaknesses as an athlete by forcing my limits to be pushed. Being pushed to the limit changed the way I thought of being a student-athlete because it forced me to get good grades and also compete at the level of being successful in the pool as well as out of the pool.
Along with being pushed to the limit with training, being the only diver on my high school swim and dive team helps me think about more than just myself and how the outcome of my performance effects me. The swimmers also rely on my points to help them get to championships. Having a team that relied on an individual made my experience of a team effort really stand out and taught me about leadership and the role sacrifice plays in a team sport. Even though we all compete individually, in the end we are a team and need to work together.
These attributes that I have developed have carried over into all aspects of my life. I have progressed as a state placing track athlete three years in a row, and it has also helped me in my personal relationships. I am more aware of what people need and desire from one another and how important compassion can be. I believe this will also help in my future goal of becoming a psychologist and working with youth.