My brother and I are both very into our sports. Therefore, the month of July becomes very busy and very expensive (sorry mom!). It's championship season, which is where you put what you have learned over the past year and put it all to the test over the course of a few short hours. For my brother in TaeKwonDo, he had only a few minutes to put to test what he has been working towards the past year. For me in swimming, you have a few seconds or minutes to swim the best you can. To get the best time and to prove that you have a reason to be there.

For my brother, he was super excited to be at his first-ever nationals. He was pumped up and easily won his first match. However, in the second match, what they had been working on in class was put to the test and he did not fare well against that guy. Bubba is still a little bit upset about getting beat, but this is only making him a bigger and better person. I am super excited to see what the next couple of years bring for him!

For me, it is a completely different story. Preparing for state in swimming is hard work. You have to make sure you are taking care of your body and making sure your muscles aren't getting tight. You have to eat right and get a good night's sleep the few weeks leading up to state. The closer we get to state beginning, the more excited we get. I am super excited to see what Clemson Aquatic Team and myself can do this coming weekend!!

All in all, championship season is a great time of year, even though it is stressful.