Personal Narrative: My First Day Of Practice In High School

It was my first day of practice for high school swimming. There I was- a scrawny freshman, idolizing these upperclassmen who towered above me. Being the only freshman in my class, my coach had me train alongside these giants. I remember the countless morning practices, which always involved grueling endurance sets, where my teammates lapped me constantly while I struggled to make the intervals; feeling disappointed in myself, but determined to continue working hard in order to catch up to my teammates. However, even those grueling workouts could not compare to Christmas break that year. A whole week of practices that were near impossible for my teammates, and absolute torture for me. I will never forget one set from that week. It was a set of 32x150s with a descending interval every four. By the last eight, I was no longer making the interval and struggling to keep up with my teammates, who ended up lapping me, as usual. But I still put every ounce of effort I had into that set, and swam every lap long after everyone else had finished. I challenged myself with a fierce determination to
become as good of a swimmer, if not better, than my teammates.
My teammates became my role models from that year on.
I looked up to them, in and out of the pool. It was hard to keep up during the impossible practices, but I knew I had to push through it to reach their level, and I did exactly that. I pushed myself farther than I ever thought possible and I will never forget the moments when I realized that I achieved my goal to become as good a swimmer as them. Not only were they role models in the pool, but also in how they acted out of the pool. The sense of family created by them was truly what made me love swimming throughout these years. The welcoming and supportive atmosphere helped me build confidence in myself, which ultimately helped me come out as gay to them first. I will never forget the feeling of acceptance that I felt around them, and as a senior now I make sure that that sense of family is even stronger for the next
generation.
The previously mentioned set of 32x150s was a yearly tradition, and as a result, it served as an indicator for my improvement as well as a cause for reflection. I think back to how when it came around my sophomore year, I was ready. The practices that year were easier for me and I was no longer getting lapped. During that set, I was keeping up with my role models and I never missed an interval. A year later, our coach gave us that same set as a morning practice, and my past role models were home from college to do the set. However, this time, there was an added challenge because I was wearing tights which add weight to my legs to add to my strength and endurance. At this practice, I realized that I had accomplished my goal from freshman year because I led for the entire set and made the intervals with ease. I was beating my role models, whom I had aimed to be like. I had become a better swimmer than they were.
Now, as a senior, with them gone I look back and realize how much I have changed since I looked up to them. I will never forget the moment when I broke one of my biggest role model’s records and a freshman came up to me and asked for tips for that event. In those moments, I realized that I became the role model those upperclassmen were to me, and from that epiphany, I found my own leadership. Swimming has taught me unparalleled perseverance and determination. I learned just how much hard work can truly accomplish. Only one’s mind holds them back. I wanted to be like those whom I had looked up to, and I worked hard every day to realize that goal. Swimming has shown me that I can accomplish anything that I set my mind on, and I will use that perseverance and determination not only in swimming but also in college and my future career.