- 2021 Highlights
Personal Statement
I began my swimming career at three months old when my mom signed me up for baby swimming lessons. Right away, I loved it. I was never afraid to go underwater like many other kids. Since baby swimming, I have started and quit many other sports. Swimming however, always stuck with me. I began swimming competitively when I moved to the United States at the age of eight. I improved very quickly, and made my first state team when I was ten. Moving up to the 13 and over age group was a big step for me. The state cuts were much faster and I had to work harder to achieve them. I think that this is when I realized how much I loved the sport, and wanted to do everything I could to reach my goals. In just one year, I went from being 13 years old and not having a state cut to being 14 years old on the podium at state, and qualifying for NCSA Junior Nationals.
In each three years of my high school, I have swam four events at State and I look forward to my upcoming senior season! I love the competitive environment of high school swimming, and how important the team aspect is. A lot of my motivation comes from my HS and club teammates, and I have been told that I motivate them too. I would consider myself to be hard working, determined, and little bit of a perfectionist. When I set my mind to do something, I do whatever it takes to achieve my goal. I believe that I have leadership qualities that can benefit a team by encouraging others to aim higher. These qualities also carry over to my school work. I work hard all year to maintain my high GPA, even while swimming 6-8 times a week. Academically, I enjoy all of my classes, but prefer math, science, and the arts.
In college, I am interested in pre-med with an emphasis on psychology and sociology, or something similar. Where my ideal school is, I am not sure yet. Having been born in the United Kingdom, and now living in Wisconsin, I am open to different climates and locations. Being a citizen of Finland and Gambia, I am also someone who can easily adapt to different cultural contexts and ways of life. My goal through the NCSA process is to help me find the school that is right for me - the perfect balance between education and swimming.
