I have been a swimmer all of my life and I always knew it was important for me to continue that through college. My goals were always more competition based and it wasn’t about the people I was doing it with until I got injured at the end of my junior year of high school. I had pushed myself too hard to the point where I was sacrificing my mental health, and it became abundantly clear I wasn’t going to hit the times I needed to go to a top school in time for graduation. It seemed like the worst thing at the time, but now looking back it allowed me to find my family here at Bentley.
Moving to a brand-new place, with brand-new people is terrifying, and very quickly I was accepted into the team with open arms. I had my class of incoming freshman swimmers to go through the new stuff with, and I had the upperclassman to lean on and ask questions. These people have been there for me through so many small and big things that have happened through college, and I don’t think I would have known many of them if not for this sport. All of the hard practices, competitions, and injuries we go through bonds us so closely for life. I know I will talk to these people and be in their lives for years to come.
The people on this team come from all kinds of backgrounds and places and have all taught me something different or been there for me in different ways. I loved the people I swam with back home, but the key difference is that in college you compete as a team for the team, not as an individual. It makes the relationships stronger because you aren’t working against each other, you are working together. This was something I had never experienced before, and it was definitely a shock in the best way.
I think also being a part of an organization that has such a time commitment and physically exerting is character building. You have to balance social life, academics and other orgs with your sport, and it really teaches you a lot about priorities and balance. It has been extremely challenging don’t get me wrong, but also hugely rewarding and I would never trade it for anything.
My journey as a college athlete has been complicated and hard but has been one of the most rewarding and fulfilling experiences of my life. From practices, to dual meets, to conference championships, every moment along the way is special. This weekend is our final meet of the season and looking back on all that has happened, I am not nervous or sad, I am grateful.