Hey Everyone, I wanted to get some other swimmers inputs. I am currently a freshman in college and have been swimming year round since I was nine. I lived and breathed swimming all through high school and it was my life. Never did I think that I would quit swimming after my freshman year of college. I know longer love swimming and I can't continue to keep doing it. I will be giving up my scholarship next year AND will be transferring to school closer to home. I guess what I want to know is and I making one of the worst decisions of my life. I don't want to continue to do this but what if I miss it or I am miserable. I have my conference meet in three weeks and want to go out on a bang, just like everyone does when they are giving up something they love to do. My question is how do I get through this last three weeks and enjoy it and go out on a bang and what is your guys opinion on my decision to hang up swimming. I would love any opinions or feedback.
Parents
Former Member
I think most of us that swam for years felt burned out at one point or another. For me it was almost halfway through my freshman year. Not so different from where you are now. I wasn't recovering well from a broken arm, I was homesick, wasn't fitting in with the upperclassmen as I would have hoped..... I still remember the night I went on a long walk and asked myself over and over if I was ready to give up swimming FOREVER. I decided that I was not. By the time our championships rolled around, I was hooked again, and sad to say goodbye to swimming three years later (goodbye for ten years, anyway).
First, I would keep your head down for the next few weeks, prepare yourself, and kick butt at the championships, if only for your team's sake. You owe it to them. THEN, after a few weeks, the question to ask yourself is, how long have you felt this way? If it's only been a month or two, I wouldn't make any irreverible decisions based on how you currently feel. But if, by April you still don't feel the desire to swim, it may just be your time to retire. Good luck!
I think most of us that swam for years felt burned out at one point or another. For me it was almost halfway through my freshman year. Not so different from where you are now. I wasn't recovering well from a broken arm, I was homesick, wasn't fitting in with the upperclassmen as I would have hoped..... I still remember the night I went on a long walk and asked myself over and over if I was ready to give up swimming FOREVER. I decided that I was not. By the time our championships rolled around, I was hooked again, and sad to say goodbye to swimming three years later (goodbye for ten years, anyway).
First, I would keep your head down for the next few weeks, prepare yourself, and kick butt at the championships, if only for your team's sake. You owe it to them. THEN, after a few weeks, the question to ask yourself is, how long have you felt this way? If it's only been a month or two, I wouldn't make any irreverible decisions based on how you currently feel. But if, by April you still don't feel the desire to swim, it may just be your time to retire. Good luck!
