I have been a swimmer since I was 8 years old, and I have always had a passion for the sport. I don't have any memories of a life in which I wasn't constantly in the water. One of my toughest experiences was when I switched teams in 8th grade. I had to leave my friends behind and adjust to a whole new practice style. However, being on the new team helped me learn how to push myself harder than I ever had before, and my times and technique started improving a lot more. My teammates and I were so close as a group, and I had the best season with them because we were all working together and building each other up, enjoying our successes together and helping each other through our failures.
I am looking to be part of a team that supports each other through the wins and the losses. Encouraging my teammates through the toughest practices has been one of the best parts of swimming, and I will be a great asset to the team in the sense of helping each other get better as a group each and every day. Over the years swimming has taught me some of my most important life lessons such as how to step out of my comfort zone, and how to utilize my failures to make me stronger. Hard practices day after day have disciplined me and helped me find success in persevering through challenges in my swimming and academics. I am looking forward to continuing my academic and athletic career in college and the new opportunities it will hold for me.