...to swim or not to swim?
As some of ya'll might remember, I wrote a small blog on my daily swimming activities as a college swimmer this past season. If not for my back injury, I'm sure it would have been much more exciting...but oh well.
Well the season ended a few months ago, and I've been largely a land lubber since. Now that I'm settled for the summer though, I'm getting back into the pool on a regular basis.
The question is... do I swim as a member of the varsity team next year?
I just can't really decide.
My coach quit at the end of the season to move with her husband to Rhode Island (where he became the new head soccer coach at the university of rhode island). The new coach of both the men's and women's program is the former assistant coach of the men's team, Jason.
He's a pretty nice guy, but since the men's and women's teams were seperate last year, I don't really know much about his coaching methods.
I've got it down to the pros and cons of swimming next year, but I still can't decide what would be best...
Pros: Great exercise - forces me to go swim even when I'm tired
Seeing my teammates again
A chance to actually compete
The ability to say I'm still a college swimmer...
Cons: Last year's practice schedule was brutal. If this year is the same...if it's the same this year it means:
Crunch on academics
No social life for 5-6 months
Constantly exhausted
..possible reinjury of my back (although unlikely)
I just don't know. I'm concerned about my academics. I really screwed up my spring quarter, for unrelated personal reasons, and as a result my GPA is in the toilet. Since I'm entering my junior year, pulling up my academics is of huge concern to me. Also, I'm going abroad in the spring...so if I had no time to spend with my real friends during the season I wouldn't see them at all during the year....
....But I don't want to be a quitter. I know I wouldn't abandon the sport...but....agh...
What do I do?
Parents
Former Member
Life is opportunities and what you make of them, I agree with the thought that you have an opportunity you will never have again why waste it.
As for the social life, how much do you really need? Again I agree with earlier posts, between work 40 hours, commuting 8 to 10 hours, parenting responsibilities such as homework, sports, vounteering for their sports and school activites, and those lovely household chores such as dinner laundry and oh yeah some time for the hubby, I would kill for hours on end in a pool. Instead it is a coordination of schedules the likes an army platoon would be envious of to get to the pool 3 x week, and sometimes skipping lunch to get a 40 minute quickie in - swimming that is.
You can be a Master for years to come and balance the above and possibly more, so while you have the luxury to study and swim and play - go for it! ( I didn't hear you mention that you had to work to pay for college, so your way ahead of the time management game.)
As for the personal stuff - if it ruined your GPA that much - time to take a hard look at what is constructive in your life and what isnt.
Unless you are applying to graduate school, not too many employers want to know your GPA, as much as they want to know that you can balance your life and can follow through on commitments.
I hope you swim but if you don't, I hope you use the time wisely, you will never have it again. Good Luck and God Bless
Life is opportunities and what you make of them, I agree with the thought that you have an opportunity you will never have again why waste it.
As for the social life, how much do you really need? Again I agree with earlier posts, between work 40 hours, commuting 8 to 10 hours, parenting responsibilities such as homework, sports, vounteering for their sports and school activites, and those lovely household chores such as dinner laundry and oh yeah some time for the hubby, I would kill for hours on end in a pool. Instead it is a coordination of schedules the likes an army platoon would be envious of to get to the pool 3 x week, and sometimes skipping lunch to get a 40 minute quickie in - swimming that is.
You can be a Master for years to come and balance the above and possibly more, so while you have the luxury to study and swim and play - go for it! ( I didn't hear you mention that you had to work to pay for college, so your way ahead of the time management game.)
As for the personal stuff - if it ruined your GPA that much - time to take a hard look at what is constructive in your life and what isnt.
Unless you are applying to graduate school, not too many employers want to know your GPA, as much as they want to know that you can balance your life and can follow through on commitments.
I hope you swim but if you don't, I hope you use the time wisely, you will never have it again. Good Luck and God Bless
