Everyone's interpretation of swimming is different. I believe that the way you feel about your sport–in my case, swimming -- changes by day or week.

It involves a lot of training: most club teams offer practices 9 times a week (doubles 3 times a week, not including dryland or lifting), and others offer 6 without mornings. Then, in order to be in the highest group or at a serious level, you have to maintain a 90% attendance average per month.

The bulk of training happens between September to February, then again in April to August. For college teams, the only competitive season required by the NCAA is September to February. However, spring and summer for most Division 1 programs is considered a time to get ahead.

If you were to ask any club or college swimmers in early August through Thanksgiving how they feel about their sport, most would probably have less than great thoughts about the sport -- and more importantly, how they were feeling in general. Getting back into shape is NO JOKE. I can't walk most days, and sneezing can cause more pain than walking up stairs does most times.

I can easily say I fall in line with most athletes in their thoughts on the sport. A really wise person I know said, "If you don't want to quit at any point in the season and really consider it, you probably aren't trying hard enough." Although, at most times I have differed, and only because I fail to fall within the guidelines of what is acceptable to train (aka, I seem to get injured more than I'd like.)

This has more often than not altered my attitude towards swimming. When I was injured, I would watch my teammates undergoing difficult practices, while I would have already hit my limit for the day -- or wouldn't have swum at all. I'd wish I could stay in and finish practice with my team, that I could move closer to my goals, and more importantly, be a part of my team's journey that season.

When I find myself getting into a negative mindset about swimming, I try to think back to times when I was unable to complete these practices, and how much better this training will be for me at the season's end. This doesn't always work, but the feeling after a good practice usually reminds me that what I'm doing is working and is moving me closer to my end-of-season goals.

Then there's the time aspect. Without quitting, and especially in college, there's a ticking time clock on how much longer you have within the sport, unless you are one of the few who plan to go pro. This is a very bittersweet thing to realize and take with you to practice every day.

As you can see, my feelings towards this sport are always jumbled and confused. I feel like this is normal, and not just in relation to swimming. I feel like most sports have rougher patches. Other athletes' thoughts may not last as long, but most can't say it never crossed their mind to quit.

To me, swimming is an opportunity where I'm able to do what many will not. A way to better myself every day, both in and out of my sport. Swimming has become a way to learn crucial life lessons that I can apply to everyday things. It's something I love to do and couldn't imagine without, but more importantly, it's something I'm so grateful I never gave up on. Otherwise, I wouldn't have met any of my best friends and other special people along the way.

Swimming has also become a reminder of how much I've overcome and how hard I've worked to get here. Everything I've done has lead to this dream, which is why this is only one part of why swimming has meant and still means so much to me.