I've been swimming since I was 3 years old. I started with Foss before moving on to swim with Hopkins Hurricanes and Texas Ford Aquatics, and since 2018 I've been swimming with Edina Gators. I started swimming because my parents wanted me to learn how to swim. But as I continued to progress through swimming club, I occasionally resented my parents for not putting me in football or hockey or basketball, because I love watching those sports. Truth be told, I couldn't compete or love them the same way I did with swimming. Swimming is more than just going back and forth in a pool. It's an occupational therapy sport. You train as a team, compete as a team and uplift each other no matter what. I've met some of the greatest people in the world through swimming and forged lifelong friendships with teammates and coaches that will last lifetimes. When I swim with my teammates, I find it important for me as an individual to be a leader on my team, whether it's my high school team or club team. People work cohesively together when people find the roles and positions that suit them best to succeed. For me, it's been leading by example and helping my teammates become the best person they can be both in and out of the water, not just as an athlete but as a student as well. Sports are more than just competitions. It's about finding a community of people that are just as passionate about the sport as you. Connecting with not just your friends and teammates, but your competitors and opponents. I forged many great relationships with my competitors, always congratulating them on their swims and their team success. The world is already harsh as it is, there's no reason to be putting people down for the wrong reasons. Small gestures like thank you, congrats, well done, and great seeing you, go a long way and can make someone's day! As I leave my high school team, I always reminded my teammates every year to always maintain camaraderie and respect for our opposition, because when you treat others the way you want to be treated, you can make the world a better place. I continue to do that on my club team to this present day, and I want all of Minnesota Swimming to continue caring for and respecting all athletes, regardless of their gender, race, speed, etc. I want people to see sports can be so including for everyone and they can completely change someone's life for the better.