Have you ever been scared or afraid about trying or doing something new; I have. Swimming has always been a fun, exciting and enjoyable activity and hobby I enjoy doing a lot. On a sunny and warm Saturday afternoon. My mom and I went to an indoor pool in California called the Hayward Plunge. I was having so much fun until my mom asked me to take the 11ft deep swimming test. I was so afraid of the test that I went pale. After paying at the cash register and changing into our bathing suits, I carefully walked up the red flight of slippery stairs to get to the swimming pool. After dropping off my backpack and taking off my slippers, I slowly walked into the freezing and cool water. As I dropped into the depth of the water, my body had goosebumps all over my arms. I was shocked at the temperature of the water on such a hot day. I started swimming laps after laps. I was having so much fun until the head lifeguard yelled, "SWIM TEST!" I didn't think much about the swim test because I have never thought about taking it. I swam up to my mom and then she told me to go try to take the swim test. I didn't want to go take the swim test that was eleven feet deep; I could drown. …show more content…
As I swam to the side of the swimming pool, I thought about the test more and more. What was there to lose I thought. As long as I'm safe I might as well do it. After a long five minutes of careful thought, I finally decided that today was going to be the day that I conquer the fear I had of the swim
The first practice was at 5 a.m. and the night before I couldn't sleep. My mind would keep wondering what would happen, was I supposed to be wearing my bathing suit, what were my teammates going to be like. When it came time to go to practice I was shaking the whole way. Soon after I learned that my fears should have not been focused on such silly things now. If anything swim really helped me face them head on. With so much change going with swim I got used to this fear. My family and friends were also a great succor. Even though they probably didn't know that it was helping me. I'm very grateful to my father supporting anything I wanted to
I struggled to keep my head above water as fierce waves battered against my fragile body. My lungs screamed in anguish as harsh cold water filtered into them, steadily consuming the space that had moments ago been occupied by oxygen. As I felt my strength waning, I wondered if fighting was even worth it. After all, it would be just as easy to let the waves overtake me and be gone forever. Oftentimes, uncertainty can strike people when it is least expected.
The sport of swimming began changing my life at age four. I won every time I touched the water, but I was unaware of my true talent.
Every time I step outside my house, I am constantly reminded of the beauty that is the opportunities that are laid at my feet. Recently I’ve had the privilege of seeing and participating in many different worlds such as the populous city of New York, the beautiful and lively city of Boston, I’ve shadowed doctors at UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center, but the world I live in has given me the best opportunity that I have taken advantage of: swimming.
It was finally time to swim. I finally came up with a plan and decided to swim in the deep side of the pool even though I didn’t know how to swim. I knew it would work but I was also scared. As I walked to the swimming pool, everyone laughed at me again for wearing a speedo. I dived into the deep side of the pool and noticed everyone was staring at me in amazement. Then I swam up and hung onto the side of the pool. Everyone was shocked and puzzled. Even the girl I liked looked surprised.
“BEEP!” the buzzer goes off. We were off like cheetahs after prey into the water. All the thoughts that are coming to my mind as a swim through the crystal blue water are, what will happen to me if I don’t take enough breaths and pass out? What will happen if I miss the wall and end up getting disqualified? What if I choke on water and get last, what if I get last? As were swimming everytime that I took a breath, I can hear the crowd cheering as loud as lions.
Swimming has been my whole life, since I jumped into the pool for the very first time. I loved every aspect of swimming from the adrenaline running through my body during my races and getting to spend even more time with my friends and my sister, and the stress of big meets coming up in the schedule. Except everything didn't go according to plan after the first day of school when I got home and I saw my parents sitting by my sister on the coach and my sister was crying.
Not knowing how to swim did not stop me from jumping into the pool. I put on my floaty and came running into the pool. “SPLASH!!” went the water as I plunged into the pool. I was so happy.
I was 8 years old when I realized for the first time what it was that I truly wanted to accomplish. My desire was to swim even better than everyone else on the team. The first swim meet of the season had finished and all I could think about was how cool all of the older kids were, It was very evident to everyone that the older kids were the best and they always got the most attention. I knew that as I got older swimming would become easier and easier, however what was unclear was the fact that I would become a state champion. Five years later I pulled up to a summer practice, something was out of the ordinary this afternoon.
Moments In the third grade, my family went on our annual trip to the Caribbean with my aunts, uncles, grandparents and cousins. We stay on a small cay, Lovango, where there are no roads, no stores and only a few people. We were sitting in the house talking and someone brought up snorkeling. I asked what is was, when I learned that it meant I could both swim and breathe underwater, I was fascinated.
So I whispered to myself right then and there “I got this. I’ve swum this race hundreds of times. I’ve practiced for this everyday for the past 6 months, there’s no reason to be stressed. I am going to swim and I am going to race. But above all, I am going to have fun.”
Swimming has done for me… Swimming from day one was the hardest sport I have ever done. Never before in my life had I been able to move 50 yards and be in pain. The very act of swimming a lap was exhausting. My parents began their divorce at the same time swim season started, and so it was a nice release.
The water in the pool was as cold as the Arctic Ocean. I thought to myself I am not ready for this tryout I am too fat for this. I first started swimming butterfly stroke which made my arms tired as if they were logs floating on water. After that I started doing the backstroke and started feeling my legs starting to give out. I then thought to myself I just finished my 50 yards and 50 more to go.
I am much older now. I am 14, can reach the bottom of the pool, and can swim well. The only time I get scared is when I'm in the ocean and the waves get big for me and they start coming too fast and hit me under the water. Other than that I feel comfortable swimming by myself now. Drowning is not on my bucket list of things to