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Senior / Freestyle Lake Elmo, MN |
| It’s hard to believe that I’m actually typing this right now. The last four years have been a complete blur of books, homework, practices, and a mix of fun and heartache… I hardly know what to say, let alone where to start. Saint Mary’s has been my home since I was eighteen years old. I’ve grown up so much since I’ve been here- I can hardly recognize myself when I look back at who I was when I was a freshman. Feelings of fear and anticipation from my high school graduation are now bubbling back up to the surface in me as my college graduation rapidly approaches on the horizon. I have no idea what I’m doing or where I’m going. I do know, however, that I’m walking out of here with a degree in English Literature and a thousand memories I’m going to carry with me forever. I came to Saint Mary’s to swim. That was the basis for my decision to attend SMU. It’s no secret that I’m not a star athlete, so I knew going to a big Division I school was out of the question. I didn’t know it then, but it would be nothing short of culture shock to join the SMU swim team. During my senior year of high school, my team had 98 girls participating. My freshman year here, SMU’s team had only 21 members (men and women’s combined). I remember being frustrated and confused, constantly comparing my high school team to SMU’s and feeling nothing short of hopelessness because of the utter lack of familiarity and never knowing what to expect. Coach, however, was a huge support for me that year and helped me understand that swimming in college and swimming in high school are two completely different dynamics; it’s impossible to compare them. I eventually stopped clinging to high school lifestyle and thinking and embraced the new experiences and opportunities Saint Mary’s offered here. I haven’t looked back. This team has taught me more about myself than anything else I’ve experienced. When I look back to everything that has happened in the past four years, I’m amazed my sanity is still intact (sort of!) after hundreds of practices and miles in the pool, not to mention the joys of intra-team affairs. I am very proud of myself for everything I’ve accomplished in my swimming career here at SMU and I’m honored to be a part of this program. I’ve been a sprinter, a distance girl go DTeam!), and everywhere in between. I feel tremendously blessed! There are way too many people to thank and recognize for everything over the past few years. I guess I’ll just have to start at plowing away at this, huh? Mom, Dad, and Katie: Thank you so much for your unconditional support and love no matter what’s going on in my life, no matter how rotten and dismal my outlook got at times, no matter what the circumstance. I feel so much closer to you all now than I ever have, and I appreciate every single word, deed, thought, and prayer you’ve offered for me. I’m beyond blessed in having a loving family who will sacrifice anything and everything they can to help me. Dusty-: You have become an indispensable part of my existence. You’ve been a big change in my life simply because of the changes you’ve made in your own. You treat me like your princess and you never cease to amaze me in my everyday life. Thank you for everything you’ve done and continue to do for me — I love you so much! Mr. Luke: You are the reason I have stayed in swimming this long. You are a fantastic coach, and I’ll never forget swimming for you in high school. I owe you big time and nobody knows that more than you! To my roommates (present and former) and my dearest friends: I have wonderful memories of all of you and I have learned so much from each of you. I have a little bit of all of you permanently ingrained in my personality now, and it feels good to know there are other people out there who enjoy extremely lame puns and stupid jokes, staying up late for no reason at all, cheesy movies, fire (February break, Buzz!), and a multitude of other activities that would take too long to list. Real friends can call each other horrible names which imply promiscuity and disease (though it is 100% untrue and fabricated) and know the other person isn’t offended by it in the least! I love you all so much and you all know how much you mean to me. Never forget the fun we had second semester of our junior year… those warm spring days will always live in us! To my teammates: A number of you have become some of my best friends over the years! I have never been associated with such a diverse, talented, and driven group of people. No matter who you are or what you hold as your priorities or expectations, know that I have learned something from each of you. I am confident I can work in peace with nearly anyone since I am now familiar with a broad spectrum of personalities. To the alumni who have already graduated: Thank you for pushing me and for encouraging me when I needed it the most. You are all so dear to me and I miss you! Heidi, Jen, Tony, and Travers- You are like my brothers and sisters. I love you all, and you’re some of the most genuine people I’ve ever met. Becca, Lindsay, Jen, Lindsey, Logan, and Sean: Time is flying by. Enjoy this experience while you can; you will be writing your own goodbye before you know it. Thank you for everything, and I’ll miss you next year! Bethany, Louise, Alex, Jessica, Ellen, Tori, Toni, and Maggie- You all have a few more years of this, and it’s been a pleasure associating myself with all of you. You all have tremendous potential and I wish you the best in your college endeavors! Coach Lester: You’re such a funny guy! Where the heck have you been? It’s a shame you didn’t come to the pool before now- you’re a great assistant coach and your good mood is indisputably contagious. It was a pleasure working with you. Coach: You have been an undeniable source of strength, encouragement, support, and guidance in my growth as a person. You’re not just my coach, you’re one of the best friends I’ve had here at Saint Mary’s (whether you like it or not!). You’re more of a peer to me than an authority figure. I always knew I could go to you with any problem I had, blubber like a baby on your couch, and walk out of there feeling 1,000 times better. I also knew I could whine, complain, stomp my feet and scowl at you and you knew enough not to take it personally- it’s just because I’m stressed out. I don’t say thank you enough, Coach, so I’m doing it now. Thank you for ignoring me on my bad days and making me do hard workouts anyways. Thank you for making me roll out of bed at 5:40 a.m. to hit the water by 6. Thank you for telling me some of the dumbest jokes I’ve ever heard just because you knew I’d die laughing ("I saw a pirate movie last night; it was rated ARRRRRRRRRR"). Thank you for being the first to be there if I was having a problem or if everything was going right and I just needed to share. You knew how to bring out the best in me, no matter how good or rough my life was, and you always made sure to let me know you care. I’m going to miss you so much, Eric! Don’t forget- —McDonald’s is the breakfast of mediocre athletes. J I’m not sure what else I can add. This is already four word processed pages and I think that’s pretty obscene. I think I’ll leave it at this: SMU swimming has been a life-changing experience and I loved every minute of it (even if I don’t want to always admit it). From my time here I know I can accomplish any task and get through anything; because I can, because I want to. ;) Thank you to everyone and God Bless! |