The person who influenced me the most is my club swim coach, Coach Brandon. He has been coaching me since I was 11 (I am currently 17). On my old team, I felt as if the coaches didn't care about me, because I wasn't their fastest swimmer. From the second I tried out for my new team I felt loved and cared for. It was the first time that I felt that someone other than my family truly cared about me. Over the years I think that sometimes I would spend more time on the pool deck with my coach than at home with my parents. From early morning dryland sessions in the weight room to late-night practices. Now, he can tell how I’m doing with one single look; and supports me throughout everything in my life even outside of swimming. He was always the first person to congratulate me with a hug after a good race or to sit with me when I didn’t do so well. He has also been the person that made an extensive effort to make me feel comfortable because I was the only person of color on my team. He has taught me so much through the years. How to be dedicated, a hard worker, strong, motivated, kind, caring, helpful, and also to recognize when you need a break. I truly don't believe that I would be the person or athlete that I am today without my coach, and I will be forever grateful for him. Swimming is a year-round sport, and sometimes I would take breaks to run track. Coach Brandon would tell me he doesn’t mind and is just glad that I am happy, and that no matter what he would support me. This is especially evident now because I have made the decision to ultimately pursue track and field in college, but my swim Coach was the first one to congratulate me and tell me how proud he was. Saying goodbye on my last day of swim practice was one of the hardest things I've had to do because of the immense impact that he made on my life. It ended with both of us sobbing, but they were partially happy tears because of how far I have excelled as an athlete and grown as a person due to him being in my life.