Life is FULL of people trying to get from point A to point B in the shortest amount of time. We are constantly wishing that we're done with class, high school, college, the work day, a task we find tedious, etc. But what if we finally reached point B and realized we didn't want the journey to end?
Life is about the journey. Long, short, grueling, tiring, exhilarating, annoying, joyful- whatever your journey, I'm sure it's worth it.
As I'm about to discuss one of the most important journey's of my life, I would like to dedicate my final article about my career as a swimmer to all my Titan Swim Team family, past and present.
Time flies faster than each of us anticipates. I remember like it was yesterday moving into my college dorm freshmen year, easily saying goodbye to my parents as I longed for the freedom that came with being on my own. My freshmen year was full of so much happiness and joy, especially because I had a home at Westminster, and especially because I found my own little niche with the swim team. They were (and are) the family I would turn to for nearly anything. What I didn't know was how important the team and family would be to me in my four years at Westminster.
Here I am, a senior, finished with my college swimming career. It's over, and every morning I wake up and realize it's not time for 6 a.m. practice or lifting, my breath gets taken away a little. There are moments during the day where I have to remind myself it's no longer time to go down to the Field House for practice. There are times where I mull the words "you're retired" over and over again in my brain. I am now what they call a "swammer."
It's a lot to handle honestly. However, what makes it all the more easy is my team, the people I still get to see on a daily basis, the ones who still stop over at the swimmer townhouse to just hangout, the people that check in on you when you haven't seen them in awhile because you're drowning in school work. I hope you find a team or a group of people like that in your life because I promise you they make it all the easier.
To my teammates: you've heard me speak about the future and how much I will miss you all, so I don't want to sound like a broken record. What I will say is this: Keep the spirit alive. You all have so much to offer whether it's humor, passion, encouragement, determination, intelligence, work ethic, talent, etc. Please never stop giving all you have to your teammates. Please never let your teammate become someone you don't enjoy training with, are jealous of, are overly competitive with, etc. Stay happy, humble, and just keep swimming. I know you will all succeed no matter what because of who you are both individually and collectively.
Life moves way too fast sometimes. I started off freshmen year with high hopes and many goals. I blinked, and here I am a senior, goals achieved, some absolutely smashed, others left lingering (but with no regret). My career as a swimmer is complete. I still don't believe those words sometimes.
I hope you take your time on the journey from point A to point B. Before you know it, you'll blink and the journey will end. So keep those eyes wide open, and enjoy every second life has to offer.
