have been swimming year round since I was eight years old. I am now going to be a sophmore in college. I have lived and breathed swimming since I first started. My life revolved around swimming and only that. Through high school I gave up hanging with friends to go to swim practice. I never really was a great swimmer even though I worked super hard to be succesful. I did swim one year in college. I am completely burnt out and cant stand to go to swim meets and not be able to swim the times I did when I was 13-15. now 20. It kills me and after my freshman year and this summer I have made the decision to call it quits because I 'cant put my self through all this hard work to not see results and swimming just dosent make me happy. Am i making a huge mistake and what happens say a year from now when i miss swimming greatly? will it all be ok then? I was so sure on my decision but when other people dont support me like coaches and parents etc its hard. I just need some advice or encougagement!
thanks!
have been swimming year round since I was eight years old. I am now going to be a sophmore in college. I have lived and breathed swimming since I first started. My life revolved around swimming and only that. Through high school I gave up hanging with friends to go to swim practice. I never really was a great swimmer even though I worked super hard to be succesful. I did swim one year in college. I am completely burnt out and cant stand to go to swim meets and not be able to swim the times I did when I was 13-15. now 20. It kills me and after my freshman year and this summer I have made the decision to call it quits because I 'cant put my self through all this hard work to not see results and swimming just dosent make me happy. Am i making a huge mistake and what happens say a year from now when i miss swimming greatly? will it all be ok then? I was so sure on my decision but when other people dont support me like coaches and parents etc its hard. I just need some advice or encougagement!
thanks!
swimkswim,
Wow, I went through almost the same thing after my freshman year of college. I called it quits and don't regret a thing. But, I gradually got back into swimming five years later, started masters swimming and loved it again.
If you are not happy swimming, you are making the right choice. Don't listen to anyone but you! Your coaches and parents don't get your frustration in the pool. I went through 3 years of no improvement. I don't think that I could have lasted as long as you did with no improvement.
Talk to you coach about maybe coming back in a year if you miss it. I am sure that your coach will want you back in a year or so if this coach doesn't support your decision. My college coach told me that I would regret it. I am sure that I could have gone back as well. I had a top ten time at my college for the 200 fly for like 8 years.
But, I have a feeling you will love your college life without swimming. No getting up for that 6AM practice. When you go out on Friday, you don't have to worry about Saturday morning practice. Plus, if you go to Florida, it won't be for a useless training trip. From my own experience, I was so much happier in college not swimming. I would have needed to be committed to the psych ward if made it through all 4 years of college swimming. Focus on your studies, get those internship and part time office jobs. It is more important to have work experience on your resume than swimming on a college team.
Just remember, don't get out of your exercise routine. Keep swimming but on a leisurely basis. Try other things. Maybe in a few years, you might want swim again and you can do masters swimming. You can probably swim the times that you did at 13-15. Many swimmers peak later in life. But, right now, focus on your college studies. Bad swimming will just ruin this great experience in your life.
have been swimming year round since I was eight years old. I am now going to be a sophmore in college. I have lived and breathed swimming since I first started. My life revolved around swimming and only that. Through high school I gave up hanging with friends to go to swim practice. I never really was a great swimmer even though I worked super hard to be succesful. I did swim one year in college. I am completely burnt out and cant stand to go to swim meets and not be able to swim the times I did when I was 13-15. now 20. It kills me and after my freshman year and this summer I have made the decision to call it quits because I 'cant put my self through all this hard work to not see results and swimming just dosent make me happy. Am i making a huge mistake and what happens say a year from now when i miss swimming greatly? will it all be ok then? I was so sure on my decision but when other people dont support me like coaches and parents etc its hard. I just need some advice or encougagement!
thanks!
swimkswim,
Wow, I went through almost the same thing after my freshman year of college. I called it quits and don't regret a thing. But, I gradually got back into swimming five years later, started masters swimming and loved it again.
If you are not happy swimming, you are making the right choice. Don't listen to anyone but you! Your coaches and parents don't get your frustration in the pool. I went through 3 years of no improvement. I don't think that I could have lasted as long as you did with no improvement.
Talk to you coach about maybe coming back in a year if you miss it. I am sure that your coach will want you back in a year or so if this coach doesn't support your decision. My college coach told me that I would regret it. I am sure that I could have gone back as well. I had a top ten time at my college for the 200 fly for like 8 years.
But, I have a feeling you will love your college life without swimming. No getting up for that 6AM practice. When you go out on Friday, you don't have to worry about Saturday morning practice. Plus, if you go to Florida, it won't be for a useless training trip. From my own experience, I was so much happier in college not swimming. I would have needed to be committed to the psych ward if made it through all 4 years of college swimming. Focus on your studies, get those internship and part time office jobs. It is more important to have work experience on your resume than swimming on a college team.
Just remember, don't get out of your exercise routine. Keep swimming but on a leisurely basis. Try other things. Maybe in a few years, you might want swim again and you can do masters swimming. You can probably swim the times that you did at 13-15. Many swimmers peak later in life. But, right now, focus on your college studies. Bad swimming will just ruin this great experience in your life.
