Thanks to Swimming…

2016 Big East Swimming and Diving Championship on Feb. 27, 2016 at Nassau County Aquatic Center in East Meadow, New York.

Photo Courtesy: Villanova Athletics Media Relations

By Caitlin Daday, Swimming World College Intern

“Thanks to swimming…” It is a phrase that I have probably uttered a thousand times. “Thanks to swimming I can’t hang out with my friends. Thanks to swimming I don’t get a vacation. Thanks to swimming I think I am missing out on everything.” It seems that every time I do not get to do something I want, it is because I swim.

It is true that because I am a swimmer I have to miss out on some of the experiences my friends are having. There are going to be lots of times where I cannot do something with my friends because I have a meet. It is inevitable that many of the classes I want to take are going to be during practice. There are many activities I will never have the time to commit to because I spend 20 hours a week swimming.

The season spans both semesters, so I will never have the chance to go abroad. And if I want to do anything in the summer, I still need to be able to train. On top of it all, when I am not swimming, the rest of my time is filled with academics and recovering for the next session. It is no wonder that the demands on my time seem to have prevented me from experiencing anything.

What We CAN Do

Photo Courtesy: Villanova Athletics

For me, it has been very easy to get hung up on what I cannot do because I swim. Seeing my friends traveling the world and always seeming to have a good time makes me envy them. And it is understandable—they are all doing some pretty great things. It does get tough. But let’s be honest—I am having my own amazing experiences.

Sure, swimming may not look or feel as glamorous as some of the things my friends are doing, but I do need to remember to stop and be thankful for what I do have because of swimming. The sport has given me so many opportunities; I could probably never be thankful enough.

When I stop and think, I quickly realize that I have it pretty good, largely because of swimming. Though it may not be easy to see amidst the hard work and sacrifices, swimming has blessed me with a lot. I am a Division I athlete at one of the best universities in the country. I have been a part of two consecutive conference championship teams. I have traveled all over the country for meets, having the opportunity to represent my school, club, and family. Above all, I am surrounded by people who love and support me, many of whom I would never have known were it not for swimming. It does not get much better than that.

The College Experience

Photo Courtesy: Caitlin Daday

We are each our own person, and as a result we each have our own experiences. For some, their college memories will consist of European excursions, all-nighters, and sorority sisters.

On the other hand, I will look back and cherish Big East Championships, training trips to Puerto Rico, and the close friendships I have found in my teammates. The experiences may be different, but they are still well worth having. If I had the choice to do again, I know I would.

While the 5 a.m. wakeup calls and intense training may be rough in the moment, they are just pieces of the greater whole. In the end, I am grateful for my own unique set of experiences that swimming has brought me. When I take a moment to reflect, I realize how truly lucky I am to be a swimmer.

So, thanks to swimming I am a student-athlete at Villanova. Thanks to swimming I have traveled the country with the best friends I could have ever asked for. Thanks to swimming, I am who I am. I have so much to be grateful for, and it is all thanks to swimming. In the end, I would not change it for anything.

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