I've been swimming for as long as I can remember, mostly just for fun in the lake and pool growing up, but the summer of my eighth grade year my family decided to join a summer league swim team. Going into my first practice, I was more nervous than I had ever been, but that all faded away soon enough and my five seasons on the team became some of my favorite summer memories.

1. I learned a life skill.

Knowing how to swim, and having the endurance to swim for long periods of time is a life skill that everyone should be capable of. Before joining the team I was comfortable with swimming freestyle, but through the practices I became stronger and more confident in my ability.

2. I made friends.

One of the best things about being a part of a summer league is that kids ages five to 18 are on the team. I swam with friends my age, became closer to the older kids, and got to know a lot of younger swimmers that I may have never met without swim.

3. Swimming is the best of both worlds.

As a swimmer your number one competition is yourself. You race to beat your own best time, and everyone else is racing you to have the lowest time. Then there's the other aspect of the sport where working together is the only way to succeed. Relays require that four people work seamlessly to complete a race both against the clock, and other teams. Having the opportunity to participate in a sport that provokes both types of competition is truly a unique experience.

4. Being on a team helped me build character.

With both individual and relay events, you as a swimmer understand that every second of your race counts towards the team's overall success. The way that the sport is designed helps swimmers to realize their potential, as well as the small yet necessary part they play on the team. I definitely credit those expectations in aiding to keep me driven and competitive in other aspects of life.

5. Swimming kept me involved.

It's almost too easy to become a lazy bum over summer, but swimming for the team ensured that I always had somethings to do, whether it was practice or meets, and goals to work towards.

6. Summer swim has the perfect relaxed vibe.

Now that's not to say that swimmers don't take the sport seriously just because of the season, but for those that swim year round, there is definitely a more laid back feeling in the summer league. This also means that it's the perfect time for swimmers to join and learn the sport through and through, without all of the pressure.

7. I stayed active!

It's a pretty well known fact that swimming is one of the best ways to get in your daily dose of cardio. With one to two practices a day, I was able to exercise without actually having to go to a gym!

8. I got to spend my days at a pool.

Really what more could you ask for on a hot summer day than working your butt off in a refreshing outdoor pool. Bonus: Stellar one piece tan lines!

9. Summer swim was just the start of my aquatic interest.

Joining my neighborhood team gave me the skills needed and provoked my interest in joining my high school swim team. From there I decided to start club swim between the seasons to stay in shape and further help my technique. Now that I'm in college, I've joined my school's club swim team, and have had the opportunity to swim at universities all over the east coast. It's all one big chain of events that got me more and more involved (and in love) with the sport.

10. Joining the swimming world opens doors.

My involvement in various swim teams prompted me to want to become a lifeguard, which happened to be my first job, then after graduation I was offered a position as an assistant coach for my summer league team. This kind of situation happens all of the time-swimmers become coaches and instructors at all levels of the, and continue to pursue their love for the sport.

11. It's fun!

Swimming is fun. I mean who doesn't like pretending to be a fish? In reality the practices may be hard and the races nerve racking at times, but that's nothing a carbo-load and a home meet can't change. It's just one of those sports that brings families together (I'm talking to you parent volunteers), creates lifelong friendships, and teaches people more about themselves and their abilities than they could ever imagine.