Kailee Puetz '19 Recruiting Profile

I have always aspired to be great in everything I set out to accomplish. Throughout my life, I have experienced many challenges, difficulties, and hardships; however, I realize now that it is these challenges, difficulties, and hardships which have shaped me into the person I am today. I swim simply because doing so makes me happy. I obtain a raw desire to succeed in swimming- failure, on the other hand, annoyingly bites at my heart. I strive to become great, of course. However, what makes me different from the millions of others who possess this quality? Well, I am more than willing to go the extra mile. Urge me to attend 20 practices a week, and I bet I would do so! In kindergarten, I had serious trouble comprehending literature. I possessed the reading level of a first grader until my seventh grade year! I was always so behind and so frustrated, but that did not stop me from spending hours at a time constantly feeding my brain the knowledge needed to succeed. I am now ahead of those who were born brain smart. I am now ahead of the game. I also never allow the thoughts of pessimists into my mind. I call these the "can't" or the "pimple" people. These pimple people lurk in every corner of the world, constantly seeking out their next victim to hurt. I have heard it all from these people- "You cannot do that! You aren't skilled enough!" "Who do you think you are? You will never succeed!" I call these the pimple people because, like acne, they can make you seem ugly. They can leave scars and hurt. They are filled with poison and hardly go away. They make you appear the opposite of what you actually are- beautiful. I have overcome these nasty pimple people, and by doing so, I have been able to believe in myself, push myself, and creep closer to my goals. I obtain this burning passion to succeed, and now- more than ever- is the time I intend on doing so.