I was one of those kids who lived and breathed the sport they played. In first grade I got a blue piece of paper that said there was a swim team in my neighborhood this summer. I brought it home to my Mom and 10 years later I was competing at the Virginia State Swimming Championships for the fourth time.

I swam on a rec league team for a few years until I decided that I wanted to get better. I wanted to take my athletic career to another level as most kids do at some point. I wanted to be the fastest.

I joined a year-round swim team. This team was known for how amazing they were. They had the top coaches around and sent swimmers to the Olympics every year, it was a pretty big deal. I made the team at a young age and I was in one of the higher groups they offered.

My first day of practice was the hardest day ever. I got out of the pool during the break and ran over to my Dad. I was crying so much and I told him that I didn't want to do this anymore. This was way too hard and I wasnt good enough. I wanted to go home more than anything in the world. My Dad said absolutely not. He turned me around and made me finish the practice.

After that week, the practices got easier for me and I loved it. Over the next two years I thrived in my sport. I was in my peak year and having the time of my life. I was finally at the point where I was the fastest and the strongest.

After my peak year I settled down and got comfortable in my age group and my competition. I wasn't winning all my races but I was in the fast heats and I was competing with the best girls in the state.

I think about this day often, but the last time it truly came into perspective was the two last days of my swimming career.

The first last day was my last Virginia State Championship Meet. I was captain of a great varsity swim team and I was the first woman athlete at my school to be a four year all state athlete. I stood behind the blocks after I got out of the pool and just sat down. I looked all around me and wondered what I would have done if I actually quit swimming that day. I wouldn't be here, with an amazing team and people supporting me. I certainty wouldn't be the same person I am now. My sport made me who I am. It taught me so many things about life and who I am as a person.

The second-to-last day, I was at my Old Dominion Swim League Championship Meet. This was the league and the team that I started on when I was 7 years old. This was the team that introduced me to swimming, the team and the families that made me fall in love with this sport. I walked out of the pool after my last race ever. I walked to the tent where my team was and was swarmed with hugs as I bawled my eyes out.

Never in my life had I been so grateful of the day I didn't quit my sport.