Dear Swimming,

As my days of competitive swimming come to an end, how do I begin to find the words to tell you what you mean to me?

You are more than the discipline and time management skills. You go deeper than the countless practices, meets and races. You are more than just a sport. You are the memories made and life lessons learned that have helped to shape me into the person I am today.

The 6-year-old Emily that had to brave the 25-meter butterfly all by herself at the summer league championship thanks you for teaching her that sometimes you have to take risks and believe in yourself. The 8-year-old Emily thanks you for giving her a special group of friends and a safe environment to spend her summers. The 12-year-old Emily thanks you for introducing that adrenaline rush that comes just before a close race. The 16-year-old Emily thanks you for giving her the feelings of pride and accomplishment when she made it to the state meet as a freshman. The 18-year-old Emily thanks you for giving her a chance to compete at the collegiate level, something she never dreamed of being able to do. The 22-year-old Emily thanks you for boosting her self-confidence, improving her leadership skills, and giving her goals to work toward.

Now at 22 and closing in on my last weeks as a competitive swimmer, I want to thank you for everything. You taught me how to manage my time, work hard, lead others and so much more. College is hard. Add early morning lifts, grueling practices, and multiple-day meets into the mix and sometimes it all seemed impossible. But you gave me a support system that believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. You pushed me beyond my limits and showed me I was capable of anything I put my mind to. You were part of some of my best moments and got me through some of my worst.

Swimming will always hold a special place in my heart. I am so grateful to have been able to experience all that you had to offer.

Thank you.