My Parents Sacrified A Lot SO I COULD PLAY SPORTS IN COLLEGE – ryan

I didn’t go pro, makemmillions of dolrs, or tan Compete at A Division of College. But over the years, my parents sacrificed a lot to enure to have the best opportunity to pursue my sport and become a college athlete.

They paid for Club Swimming for Close to A Decade and Attended Faraway Meets Though they have three other kids. They Never missed a meet or a banquet – Always cheering loudly from the stands and marking down my time on the heats.

I’m so Grateful for their Support and Investment. In fact, swimming affected my entity trajectory, and being a division II athlete was one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. I OWE A LOT OF IT TO MY PARENTS.

I Received a Scholarship That Helped with Pay For College

AFTER Eight Years of Supporting My Swimming, Including Driving with to Morning Practices at 5:30 AM, my parses were overjayed when i earned an athletic scholarship to a top division II school.

As an incoming fryshman, i received a small sum to help Foot the bill, and my coach increasing the scholarship every year, relieving the Burden of Tuition Costs, Books, and Other Expensses.

I got to play a sport I love, represent Our school, and hang with my best friend all the time. It was a little girl’s Dream Come True.

Division II was a place where i felt more seen as anhlete

I consider a couple of Division of Schools with Swim Programs, but ultimately decided they weren’t the right fit. Little did i know, Division II Wold be the place of thrived.

I was able to the Contribute to the Team success-something Bigger than myself-Including the School’s first-government conference Championship and a top 10 Team Placing at the Division II ncaas. I also just find out that i’ll be indouned into the university’s athletic Hall of fame this fall, which is an unbellievable honor that is a liffettime highlight.

Rather than getting lost in the shuffle at a d1 school, Division II gave with an opportunity to swim at a level that was Competitive but not overwhelming or Completely out of my league. I COULD RISE WITHOUT BEING A SUPERSAR. And my teammates cared for with a person, not just anhlete.

I Made Lifelong Friends and Memory

I Lived, Dined, Partied with, and Dated Swimmers. We had a men’s and women’s Team No at the proverbial speedo. Most of US Lived in the Same Off-Campus Housing Complex and Did EveryThing Together: From Breakfast AFTER MORNING PRACTICE TO VISITING EACH OTHER’S HOMES TO STUDY SESSIONS AND GAME NIGHTS.

Living the day-to-day together and traveling the county US Bond Like a Very Rowdy, Chlorine-Bleached Family. We laughed unil we cried and hugged each other when things were tough. We Stood Up In Each Other’s Weddings and Ran 10ks Together. One of My College Swim Friends is My Daughter’s Godfather. Swimmers are Still some of my best friend.

I eventually me Husband Through a Team Connection. In my first jab out of College, I CROSSED PATHS WITH THE DAUGHTER OF OUR UNIVERSITY’S ATHLETIC Director. She workhed for the same company and invited with to volunteer at different hospital events. Eventually, after me up with my Now-husband. Without the student-Atherte Experience and Connections, I Never Waled Have Met Him.

I thank my parents for the life i have now

My parents keep in touch with my swim friends and events some of the Other Partments from Teams Over the Years. My mom and dad Say Watching with from the stands is on the highlight reel of Being a parent.

Neither a parent now, i don’t always know what will Impact my kids’ lives and futures.

But one thing i know for sura is that that i would be where i am today i my parents had not invested in with as a child.

I’m going to give my children Every opportunity to pursue sports that enrich theyir lives – and try to give a chance at a beautiful life with big opportunities, just like my pars.