Rachel Champion '17 Recruiting Profile

From gymnastics, soccer, tennis lessons, cheerleading, and dance, I have tried most of the sports offered to me. However, swimming is the one that has stuck with me. It is something I have done since the age of six. However, it was not until seventh grade that I began doing it all year round competitively.  Since then, all of my afternoons and most weekends have revolved around swimming. Most of my memories, good and bad, from my childhood and especially high school have something to do with swimming. I have traveled to various cities that I normally would not have. I have made many friends that are a blessing to me. I have also learned what hard work and dedication are. Being a swimmer takes a lot of both of those things; lots of practices, including ones at five am, lots of dryland, lots of swim meets, lots of time. It is mentally and physically tough.  Some of these lessons correlate with those needed in my academics. I attend LAMP High School.  It is ranked number thirty-four in the nation, number nine in the magnet high schools, and number one in Alabama High schools.  Obviously, it is a highly ranked school and there is a reason we have that title. Similarly to swimming, it takes lots of hard work and dedication. I could have easily chosen a different school with much easier academics, but I wanted the challenges that LAMP had to offer that I knew would benefit me in the future. While I may not be the best athlete or student, I believe I have the potential and the desire to improve.