Common Application...Sterotypical views

For my entire life I was told that I was a great gymnast who had a natural talent for it and I believed them. In Middle School, my mom wanted me to stay with gymnastics even though I was losing interest and instead I wanted to try other sports. Many of my friends are swimmers and they wanted me to swim; my dad thought that I should learn how to swim just because it's a good life skill. Three years ago, when I officially quit club gymnastics, I started pole vaulting because my friend was doing it. I found out that many other former gymnasts, like myself, picked up pole vaulting after they quit competitive gymnastics. One of the senior pole vaulters on my track team encouraged me to do swimming because it would help with pole vault. I decided then that I wanted to start swimming over the summer on Seahawks, a summer swim team.

When I told my mom, she seemed surprised that I would suggest that; she never saw me as a swimmer. In fact, I remember her telling me that I wasn't built to be a swimmer because I wasn't relatively tall and didn't have big feet or broad shoulders like most good swimmers. I was so shocked that my mom would say something like that to me because she always wanted me to learn to swim, but never thought that I would do it competitively. My mom is a very supportive person and always encourages me to try new things, work hard, and be confident, but it felt like she was shutting me down from doing something that I wanted to, which she rarely does. Contrary to my mom's opinion, I swam and began to "look" like a swimmer, whatever that's supposed to mean, and I was doing extremely well for my first year. I joined the Varsity Team and I was only two seconds away from making it to sections. My coach would put me in most of the relays and it made me feel very proud that I was part of the swim team. I realized that I was able to accomplish something that my mom never imagined I could. I always used to doubt myself and have negative thoughts in gymnastics, and in pole vault as well, but for some strange reason I don't feel that way towards swimming. I am extremely ecstatic that I joined swimming--it was probably one of the best decisions I've ever made on my own and will never regret it. I think that has to do with proving to myself that I can be/do what I want regardless of what people say. I think that if I am determined and really try hard enough, I can do anything I set my mind to, which is something I have to remind myself every once in awhile. As a side note, my mom is now my number one fan; she hasn't missed a single meet and is always there to cheer me on.