Summer has been fun, with my much needed relaxation and whatnot. I think I'm procrastinating or not heavily committing to these projects, and I have to actually FINISH what I've started, but it's failing. Swimming has been chillax. I'm actually doing what I can at practice and trying not to show any whims of complaint so I can try to project myself as some sort of leader. I don't know how that works, sorry. I've managed to achieve a Junior Olympic time in the time of my high school swimming. It's one accomplishment I can happily say I am proud of. I guess I'll go into slight detail about my swimming experience while I'm here.
It all started in the 7th grade. I was supposed to join swimming then because it would help my asthma, but I was being stubborn and heavily refused to get my unruly hair damaged and everything. My hair then was really uncontrollable, and I would have to have to get into the hassle of fixing it and making it manageable, and with swimming, I would have to commit to more hair time. (Yes, what a lame and silly excuse) BUT moving on.
Freshman year. The summer after my 8th grade promotion, I decided I would play tennis. I was not at all athletic during any previous year, rather, I was a nerd. I decided to join tennis because my mom and aunt played tennis in their earlier years and I just wanted to follow in their footsteps. Tennis was...interesting. I ran way more than I ever had in my entire life, along with improving my mile time for PE drastically. Running became easier for me, and I have tennis to thank for that. However, I had a few "balls to the face" no inappropriate thoughts here, but it's true. I remember during conditioning, the server hits the balls to the prospective players and unluckily for me, I got it to my face. I handle pain quite well, so I didn't fuss about, just silent tears which was probably triggered by the force of the ball. Not so fun. I was placed on the junior varsity team. No complaints, I was a freshman then, but I didn't have as much dedication to the sport as much as my fellow peers, who had a far higher chance of being on varsity the next year (they got in the next year), so I decided I would see how that year would go and decide on whether or not I should continue with it.
Spring season: I had no intention of swimming in the beginning of the year, but as swim season got closer, a sophomore on the city team encouraged me to swim for the school. I decided I would. I had already taken 2 weeks worth of lessons and unsuccessfully swam some odd strokes during lap swimming sessions (it was for 18 yr olds and over, but my mom was able to convince the lifeguards to allow me to swim, granted I was 15 at the time due to my health). When I walked onto the deck, I remember Mr. Pearson, one of the coaches, asked me to swim a 50 freestyle. My thoughts? Huh? I barely joined and now I have to swim this? along with, Cool, let's do this. I swam that 50 as best as I could, and finding out I got a 59 without a dive was pretty cool since I went under a minute and I didn't dive (not that I knew how). I worked on my freestyle during practice and remembered the coaches asking what other stroke I knew, and I responded with breaststroke. I ended up having to swim breaststroke during my meets and gradually improving time, but my kick was still wrong. Oh well, I was stuck with it and have stuck with it since I don't get DQ'd for my events >:] My peers who were in tennis joined swimming as well, and I remembered thinking I want to be better in this sport. My lovely and friendly team captain Nikki saw that I became really competitive and one day after a meet, we were back at Cunningham and she told me, you belong over there (where VJO was having a home meet). Why'd she tell me this? I always always talked about improving my time, being faster, etc. I became addicted to the sport. Even my coaches noticed. I was triggered to join VJO after the SCAC meet when I fell behind my friend who didn't have the addiction I had by a few milliseconds ( I think that's what it's called). I wanted a title in swimming, or a place. Varsity would be guaranteed once I joined VJO.
So, after high school season ended, I joined the city team. May 5, 2009. It was Cinco De Mayo, and I chose to join then so I would remember it. I remember having a confidence and telling my sister, Anjel,'s coach, Hey Aaron! I'm going to join today with which he responded enthusiastically, Great! I had to do the streamline flutter kick on my back which I failed at since I could not stay afloat for a while and went diagonally.. I grew to love the sport even more and to face the next season in high school with more fervor. I had to choose between tennis and VJO and of course, I chose swimming.
Sophomore year- I had gone from a 59 in freshman year, to a 37 in the first meet then vs. Benicia, to a 34 at SCAC with the disappointing falling behind. I was at a 30 the beginning of my sophomore year, along with a determination to drop under 30 seconds. I did. Sophomore year was a pedestal, allowing me to gradually drop time, to a 29. I remember getting a 29 at the Jaguar Invitational. The feeling was sensational, but I wanted an even lower time. I did not reach it at SCAC, staying at a 29, but having more to look forward to.
JUNIOR YEAR~ my peak year..for now,hopefully. I entered the season with a 29, but had a 28.92 from the 2010 REALs, kind of like the SCAC for VJO, but more intense. The first meet, I had a 29.1 something and it was disappointing. As meets passed by, I got the 28 back, but had the same problem with the 29's. Okay, I'm at a 28, can I get that 27 now? It was only by the SCAC meet that I finally got a 27, 27.73 :D which meant I had a JO time! The long course meet for VJO after the season, I was somewhat determined to get a JO time in long course as well to back my short course time. The race for that 50 free, was wow. I believe that I could have indeed have done better, but I will have to do so in the upcoming JO meet. I was clocked in at the time of 31.89, the EXACT JO time needed to be eligible for JO's. At least I have no pressure :p I'm looking forward to dropping time in JOs and hopefully get a 26 in short course once the REALs comes, early August. I have goals set for next year's season again, and I hope to go with an impression and break the school record in the 50 free of 27.58. :D I want to make sections as well- 26.40, and make Far Western times too. JUST FOR THE 50 FREE. Oh well! I'm a sprinter, sadly, it's the only event I could really get in then get out well. I heard FW times and other times were going to get harder to make :/ I hope I have my 50 Free on JO on lock, so I could qualify for the Short Course Yard JO's.
More to look forward to and college applications/scholarship/aid, etc next year! as well as Prom and GRAD NIGHT :) I'm feeling a mixed range of emotions for next year. Graduating and wanting to leave an impression in the things I do. CLASS OF 2012~
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