As I stood at the edge of the Olympic-sized pool, surrounded by the other members of the high school swim team, I couldn’t help but feel a wave of nervousness wash over me. I had always loved swimming, but I had never been a part of a team before, and the idea of wearing a tight, revealing swimsuit in front of my classmates made my stomach churn with anxiety.
To make matters worse, our coach was a guy. Coach Stevens was a friendly and enthusiastic man, but the thought of changing in the locker room with him and the other girls made me incredibly uncomfortable. I couldn’t help but worry that he would be looking at us, judging our bodies, and comparing us to each other.
But despite my fears, I had decided to join the swim team because I loved swimming more than anything else. The thought of being in the water, gliding effortlessly through the pool, brought me a sense of peace and tranquility that I couldn’t find anywhere else.
When I arrived, I found that the locker room was crowded and noisy, with girls laughing and chatting as they changed into their swimsuits. I quickly found a corner and tried to change as quickly as possible, keeping my eyes downcast and avoiding the eyes of the other girls. But as I glanced up, I saw that Coach Stevens was standing in the middle of the room, talking to some of the other swimmers.
I put on my swimsuit with shaky hands, feeling the tight fabric cling to my skin as I adjusted the straps. I kept my eyes averted as I made my way to the locker room, trying to avoid the gaze of the other girls and the coach.
I felt my face flush with embarrassment as I hurried to finish changing, trying to ignore the fact that he was watching us. But as I slipped on my goggles and cap, I reminded myself that I was here to swim, and nothing else mattered. I took a deep breath and walked out onto the pool deck, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
As practice began, I threw myself into the water, feeling the cool embrace of the water envelop me as I began to swim. The rhythmic motion of my arms and legs calmed my nerves, and soon I was lost in the rhythm of the strokes, my mind clear and focused.
As the practice drew to a close, Coach Stevens approached me, a smile on his face.
“Great job today, Sarah,” he said. “I can see you’re a natural in the water.”
Sarah shared her story of her first practice because she says she wanted other girls to know its ok to be shy and nervous but that joining the swim team is worth it.
