Since joining a competitive swim team when I was 12, my passion for swimming has only grown. To the outside eye, swimming may seem like a mundane sport as swimmers repeat the same strokes going back and forth in one lane. However, I see it as a way for me to push myself to improve through hard work which is itself an important life skill. I am typically an organized person who likes to prepare the best that I can for any event. Swimming matches my personality because I can enter a race knowing exactly what I am going to do. The more work I put in throughout the year, the more time I will take off. I have also had to react to injuries and work through self-doubt. In my community, swimming is not a very popular sport. We do not have a public swimming pool in my county which forces swimmers to travel to nearby counties for practice. Before COVID-19, many neighborhoods in my county participated in summer league swimming teams for two months each summer. These teams allowed me and my year-round teammates to participate and inspire others to take the plunge. While these organizations have not been able to continue this tradition post-COVID-19, I am excited that my county will be installing its first public aquatic center in the next couple of years. In the meantime, I am an athlete representative for my club team. I have attended leadership and delegate meetings to learn how the Georgia Swimming LLC organization functions. I also swim for my high school where I help teach and support my teammates during their races. My high school swim team welcomes a variety of skill levels and teaches throughout the season. I hope to continue to improve swimming participation in Henry County in the future. When I go to college, I will join a team of motivated swimmers who work hard both inside and outside of the water. I hope to participate in fundraisers such as Swim Across America to raise money for important causes. Together, we can find ways to support our local communities. As a potential political science major, I am also interested in participating in political events. I am intrigued by the way our government runs and want to continue to learn more. I may join a political organization or take part in local protests on the college campus.