Personal Narrative-Swim

I am known to be extremely clumsy. With that, it’s expected that I often end up in awkward situations. In the past I have called numerous teachers “Mom,” fallen down while walking up stairs, almost fallen off a cliff; and it can be assured there were many more instances where my embarrassing clumsiness had led me into awkward, sometimes life threatening, situations. One moment that stands out in particular takes place in every marine animal welfare activists’ “favorite” place, Sea World.

On my first day of rocket football practice in fifth grade I was nervous. This was the first year at my new school I would be playing football; Because of this I felt I had to prove myself to the players and the coaches. Unexpectedly, my coach yelled promptly at 6pm for us to fall into a line. Out of fear of running laps we all compelled to orders. Being the new guy, I was shoved to the fresh start of the line, after chatting with the two coaches beside him. Suddenly he began to speak in a less tempered voice. In such a way that made it seem he just realized he was yelling at kids to begin with. Calmly, he told us about how we were not allowed to practice without our helmet, shoulder

Fast forward to the next year, I showed up at tryouts. I was confident, but still nervous considering what happened the year before. As I jumped in the pool I was ready for whatever the coach threw at me. Not once did I get lapped. The coach posted the list, I anxiously looked over it and saw my name. Relieved and overjoyed, I had finally made it. Later that year I even won the coaches award at the banquet. Forget about making the team, I was now an

This is about the time that I saw what it’s like underwater. One day during summer I went to the pool with my grandma and 2 cousins, Sidney and Trevor. When we got to the pool I changed into my suit and went over to the Leisure Pool to start swimming. I got in the pool and swam around for a little bit until I got bored of being in the water. I wanted to leave.

Impatiently standing on the itchy grass, I wait for my mom to finish layering sunscreen on me. Just before then, I had attempted to slip on my orange arm floaties. Of cource they got stuck about halfway up my arm so I had to dip them in the water before sucessfully pulling them all the way up to just below my shoulder. At five years old, I hadn’t exactly learned how to swim in any way other than the doggy paddle. Danielle, my little sister, who also wore the same orange floaties, was already at the stairs. I quickly escaped my mom and ran over to join her, only slowing down at the last minute so as not to hurt my feet on the small bit of rocky sand before the stairs. Black pieces of something were bolted to the dark wooden stairs. The water

The skies were clear and the waters were calm when we dove into the warm waters of the Gulf. We should’ve stopped at the surf shop; it would’ve avoided this whole mess. The strong currents are tossing my body around like a rag doll. I’m trying to keep my eyes on Taylor’s bright red hair, because at this point, losing Taylor means I have zero chances of survival, and no friend to work with. The waves finally seem to have calmed down enough for me to swim to the surface to get some much-needed air. I’m looking for a certain redhead, but I can’t find her. I’m starting to panic.

It was the day I had been waiting for all season; the ultimate test of my swimming career thus far. Sections day one had finally rolled around. I had just finished my brief warm up, and I got ready to rest before my crucial race. I threw on my blue, nylon warm up and wrapped my bulky parka around my body. I nestled on the bench next to my friend Liberty, and we began playing music to pump us up before the race ahead. I sat lingering patiently in the yellowy-lit University of Minnesota-Morris pool area as the musty smell of chlorine filled the air. I leaned back and shut my eyes to visualize my upcoming race and let the music pacify me. I was frigid as I sat anticipating the race.

“Hannah hurry up, by the time we get there it will be adult swim” I yelled up stairs.

The pool was cold and I was breathing heavy. I felt like every muscle in my body was going to explode. I was swimming the last lap of the 500,and I couldn't feel my body. The black line at the bottom of the pool taunting me, since I have been staring at it for 19 laps. I only had one more lap to go, and I didn't know if I would make it. Through my tinted goggles I could see my teammates in black and orange suits jumping in the air cheering. My coach hands were moving,so fast and he was cheering so loud. I was finally approaching the yellow and blue flags. In my head I just kept telling myself ”You can do this, you can do this.”

“Give me a second!” I hollered back. I took my sweet time smoothing the sunscreen to my caramel skin. I hopped down the stairs, taking three steps at a time, as I did when I was rushing. Peering out the open front door, I could see everyone was already on their way to the pool. I hurried to catch up, moving as quick as a firemen answering a call.

My swim coach is a passionate, tough man, so the day I needed to inform him I would miss swim finals for my Standard Aptitude Test, I braced myself for his response.

5:00 am, the alarm wakes me. Struggling into my suit, still damp from yesterday's practice, eyes half-closed, I made my way to the pool deck. Staring and listening to the blue water, I gathered myself to jump. Splash! The cold and chlorinated water awakens my senses. For the next two hours, my teammates and I battle tirelessly against the water. The dreams that most people have when they sleep, I have when I swim.

The first time I ever played pool was in a bowling alley. I wasn’t really paying much attention, because I was really bad at it. I wasn’t any good at all. I didn’t even know how to hold the stick right. I was remembering that night not so long ago.

Zachary, I like the idea of swimming as a way to release stress. I enjoy swimming, I don't do it often, but when I do it, I feel relaxed. I think I will practice this more often. The only problem here in Reno is that we only get three months of summer, but I guess if I go to the gym I can swim there. Thank you for the suggestion.

It was my junior year of high school and I had just earned a spot on the basketball team. The first game of the season came and I was expecting to play some meaningful minutes, I earned them. At least I thought I did. I barely even played. I immediately confronted my coach the next practice. I made sure the frustration didn’t show and that I stayed patient, because I knew this would be a process. I asked, “What do I have to change or do differently to get playing time?” My coach replied, “You have to listen carefully and do exactly as I say from here on out.” The following practice I responded by doing exactly what my coach wanted to see. Within a few games I started to see more playing time. I had received encouragement from my coach because