I feel tense and I am shaking, yet I am firmly determined to achieve my goal. With just seconds before the start of the race, images of the past five months cloud my thoughts. Unpleasant memories of waking up at pre-dawn hours and arduous after-school practices flash through my head. I will soon know if my efforts both physically and emotionally will bring me success or failure. The loud buzzing of the start jars me back to reality. With an explosion of adrenaline mixed with a surge of testosterone , I dive in. The water rushes against my skin and surrounds me in its icy cold depth. Before I can think, I realize I am coming to my final lap. My body's muscles begin to fail as I fight to move my arms through the water. I feel completely numb all over and the only thing that keeps me going is my undying love for the sport. .
I am a swimmer, which to me is more than just an after-school activity; it is a way of life. I have transformed from being a shy, insecure, and overweight boy who was often targeted by peers with physical abuse, to the confident, athlete I am today. Swimming has allowed me to recognize a new strength within myself. I have learned that through hard work and persistence I can accomplish goals that I had previously considered to be out of my grasp. I joined the swim team to make new friends, yet through this experience I have gained more than just the friendship of fellow teammates but the tools to get me through a lifetime of races.
