Swim by jillian

Swim by jillian - April 2016 Scholarship Essay

I wouldn’t go near a pool for years. Swim lessons were the purest form of torture. I hated swimming.
My dad pulled me out of the pool. He doesn’t even know how long my face was in the water. I was still breathing. Traumatized but alive.

I climbed out of the pool. I gazed up at the timing board to see how long I was in the water. I’m barely breathing. I have been in the pool every day for the past 5 months. Swim practices are the purest form of torture but I love swimming.

I spent summers watching my sister and my friends take lessons and race up and down the pool. I was afraid to jump in and drown.

I spend my summers teaching lessons and racing up and down the pool. I watch kids to make sure they don’t jump in and drown.

It clicked in fifth grade. A week into the school year my friends were raving about their summer at the beach and in the pool, and I had nothing to share. I felt so left out. I went home and told my mom I wanted to join the swim team.

It clicked in fifth grade. A week into the school year, my life changed. I found a place where I belonged. I went home and told my mom I loved being a member of the swim team.

I wasn’t a very good swimmer. Most of my teammates began swimming before they could walk. I practiced every day and improved a great deal. I won rookie of the year my first year on the team

I’m still not the best and realized that I won’t make the Olympic team. Most kids have been swimming since birth. I practice every day and always try to improve. I made 2nd and 3rd team All-Division.

I was afraid to drown.

I am a part time life guard and swim instructor.

I didn’t know how to swim.

At times swimming seems easier than walking.

I conquered my fear.