Why Swimming?
“Every stroke is a step toward improvement, every practice a chance to become stronger, faster.”
Why swimming? What is it about water that draws me to it every day? For me, swimming is more than just a sport; it's an integral part of who I am. It shapes not only my daily routines, but my passions, goals, and mindset. Much like Jhumpa Lahiri explores the question of why she’s so drawn to the Italian language, I often ask myself why I devote so much time to swimming.
There is no easy way to describe swimming. Everyone has a different view of water. Some say water is something that you drink, others say it's for watering the plants. But to me, a pool of water is my home, somewhere I go every single day of my life. What makes the water feel like home? Lahiri writes, “my slow but stubborn learning of Italian is a lake to cross, a wall to climb, an ocean to probe.” In the same way, swimming is my lake to cross and my ocean to probe — an endless journey of challenges, triumphs, and discoveries.
Every day after school I wonder who will be driving me to practice. What will the sets look like? Will it be hard or will we be working on stroke technique? Over the summer I have morning practice at 6 AM, followed by my lifeguarding job at the same pool for 8-12 hours, followed by another practice at nighttime, and repeat that every day. Outsiders to the sport may think swimmers are crazy for spending hours staring at a black line, but in reality, it's much more than just that.
As I grew older, swimming became more than just a daily routine; it became a metaphor for life. Swimming requires endurance, both physically and mentally. Imagine moving through water: your body fighting against its resistance, your muscles burning, yet you keep going. Why? It’s not just the adrenaline of racing, although that’s part of it. It’s about persistence. Swimming is a door that needs constant pushing to stay open. Swimming has taught me to push through challenges, no matter how tired or overwhelmed I feel.
This persistence has shaped my approach to life beyond the pool. Schoolwork, for example, can feel like an endless cycle of assignments and deadlines. There are days when I come home from practice, physically drained, only to face hours of homework. Yet, just as in swimming, I push through. I finish what I start, whether it’s a race or an essay. The endurance swimming has instilled in me carries over to every challenge I face. But still, I ask myself, why swimming? What is it about this sport that gives me the strength to endure?
One answer lies in the way the water calms my mind. Swimming offers me a mental escape. It’s like stepping into another world where I can leave behind the stresses of school, relationships, and life’s pressures. The water becomes a kind of blindfold, temporarily blocking out everything else, allowing me to focus on nothing but the rhythm of my strokes. As I glide through the water, my thoughts seem to settle. It’s as if the pool itself absorbs my worries, leaving me lighter, clearer. So, perhaps another reason why I swim is for the peace it brings.
But as I explore the question, “Why swimming,” further, I realize swimming also symbolizes growth. Every stroke is a step toward improvement, every practice a chance to become stronger, faster. Like a graft that grows and strengthens over time, swimming has become a core part of who I am. It has shaped my identity, teaching me discipline, resilience, and focus. I’ve set ambitious goals in the sport—like earning a Gold cut to compete in the Junior Olympics—and while those goals motivate me, they don’t fully explain why I really swim.
Ultimately, the answer to "Why swimming?" evolves as I do. It began as a family tradition, then became a source of personal challenge and triumph, and now serves as both a physical outlet and a mental release. But even with all these answers, the question still persists. Why swimming? Because, like the endless laps I swim, there is always something new to discover in the water. The journey never truly ends.