-
Period: to
Summer Swim Training
I had been swimming for about a year when the summer rolled around, but never at a very strenuous level (mostly I only swam in an effort to not become fat). That all changed that summer with morning and afternoon practices for at least two hours each, Monday through Friday, and another practice on Saturday. I was so out of shape, I wanted to give up after a week, but my dad and sister made me stick with it. -
High School Starts
It was finally here. The big, bad day where I would actually start to have responsibilities, have to manage my time, and balance school, swimming, and attempt to maintain a social life. I was anxious for my first day, but my father's words helped calm me down: "you'll do great." Simple, yet powerful. -
First High School Swim Meet
Being a relatively shrimpy freshman on the swim team, I was intimidated by the prospect of a high school swim meet. But my mom and dad were there for the full two hours, always cheering me on and encouraging me to swim my hardest. The girls won that meet and the boys lost but I felt like I was on top of the world. -
Swim Banquet
Our swim season had ended about a month prior to our banquet, but we had to plan and prep everything, so it was good to see the team I had grown so close to again. When handing out the letters and awards, I was elated to find I had lettered, but a bit crestfallen to hear I didn't win Rookie of the Year. Despite this, I had never seen my parents more proud of me. My dad took me aside and told me he didn't care that I didn't win the other award, he was just happy to see my do my best. -
Keys Trip
My dad instilled in me a love for fishing, whether it was pitching a lure to the bass in the lake or trolling for dolphin (mahi mahi, not the mammals) thirty miles offshore. My parents always took us kids down to the Keys for a week or so to visit my grandparents, but my siblings never took to it like I did. I'm so glad I got to spend that time with my father because it has taught me way more about patience than I thought possible. There's always time to cast your line out just once more. -
Period: to
Sophomore Year
Freshman and sophomore years were pretty rough years, aesthically speaking, so I don't like to talk about them much. -
My Sister Graduates High School
My sister had been a great role model for me and to see her graduate and then move on to college really helped remind me of what's important in life: family. My dad came from a split family, so he placed a lot of importance on making the marriage work with my mom so we wouldn't have to go through what he did, showing his truly selfless, fatherly intentions. -
The Keys Again
This time when we went down, we had some of the worst weather for boating. We decided to head down to Islamorada to stay with some family friends and go out fishing in the morning. As soon as set out at 6:30 in the morning, we got pummeled with wave after wave, ranging from about five feet to seven feet, with a couple eight footers thrown in. That turned out to be one of the best days of fishing. My dad can be stubborn, but he taught me perseverance. -
Period: to
Junior Year
This was my most daunting year. I didn't have my sister around so I was basically an only child at home. I was also taking two of the hardest AP courses, chemistry and Spanish, so I was in for a tough academic year. Junior year was when I first started to truly break out of my bubble and talk to new people, be more active in my school, and be more social. -
Bass Fishing
My dad taught me just about everything I know about fishing, and it's a skill that I'm glad he passed on to me, which I hope to pass on to my children. Bass fishing is much different from offshore fishing. When fishing with a topwater lure, you must be able to finesse the rod in such a way that it produces the desired action in the lure. It's not an easy thing to do, and I was often discouraged, but my dad told me to take a deep breath, cast out the line, and "work it." -
I Tried Track and Field
After swimming for almost five years, I was tired of it and wanted to try something new. My dad, a runner to this day, did cross country and track all through high school and college and was excited for me to give his sport a try. I was all too eager to see him proud of me, up until I got shin splints and wanted to quit. My dad told me to stick with it, claiming it would "build character," but that character didn't help my legs. (I know the picture isn't me, but it's one of the memories I had) -
Senior Year Begins
I don't feel like a senior. I don't feel like I've already spent three years here and am ready to finish out my fourth. High school honestly goes by so quickly, it almost makes you not want to blink so you don't miss even a split second of it. My dad told me to cherish the memories you make in high school because once it's done, it's done and gone.
