Emma Shields '21 Recruiting Profile

The sport of swimming has taught me many things, such as self-discipline, resiliency, and humility. But the most important thing I have learned is who I am and who I want to be. Hello, my name is Emma Shields, and, like most athletes writing a swimming profile on this site, my earliest memories revolve around some sort of pool – a backyard pool, a summer pool, an indoor pool, cold pools, overly heated pools, and, my favorite, competition pools. After all of the hours I have spent in these pools, I know that I am a swimmer at heart and that I want to make a difference using my sport as a platform.

 Being part of a swim team is more to me than competition and comradeship. It is an investment in people and our collective futures. Yes, I want to train hard and win. Yes, I want to be part of a supportive, dedicated team. But, even more than that, I want to invest my time and talent being part of a close-knit community of athletes that works beyond their own achievement to motivate the success of their teammates. I want to think beyond our own pool and look outside of where we live, study, and train to the society surrounding us. I am so excited for college and I can't wait to find my team!