University of Tennessee Athletics
Lady Vol Swimming Diary - Alex Barsanti
September 29, 2008 | Women's Swimming & Diving
Sept. 29, 2008
One year. 12 months. 365 days. 8,760 hours. Or even 525,600 minutes.
Whichever way you look, it was just this short time ago that I started my career as a Lady Vol. If someone would've asked me last August or September what I would gain at Tennessee, my answer would have been inaccurate. At that point, I would have imagined I would leave with a college degree and memories of swimming with an amazing team. The truth is that I have learned more than I ever thought possible over the past year. Because of this, I know that my experiences here at Tennessee will impact the rest of my life. Here are some of the lessons I have learned:
How to Make a Change: This is something I learned with my initial decision to come to Tennessee, and something I continue to learn everyday. Change is something I once feared and I have realized that making changes is not easy, yet it is necessary to become better. To make a change you must be confident, trust your decision and beliefs, and never regret the outcome.
Dealing with Disappointment: With a string of injuries and a surgery, overcoming challenges became a significant part of my sophomore season. Despite initial frustration, I learned not only how to stay positive and focused, but I also learned how to recover from setbacks and become a stronger person.
The Meaning of Strength: My definition of strength was redefined by overcoming the challenges I faced last year. In years prior, my definition would always start with a physical definition of being strong. Now I still think of being physically strong, but I believe that a team or person's ability to stand by their beliefs, values and what is fair takes more strength than lifting a weight ever could. Our team is the representation of true strength. When one of us is struggling, we can rely on the stability of the team. The Lady Vols are my definition of strength. Even in the face of challenges that could weaken our bond, we prevail with stronger ties.
The Importance of Character: Although I always valued the character of a person, I have never understood how much this value can affect relationships. Through having integrity and respect for others a team can create a culture where it is easy to be a great team. On the other hand, I have come to realize that a lack of character can deteriorate a team. I am thankful everyday that our team is made up of 26 girls and a support staff that possess the utmost character.
Believing: Most importantly, I think I have learned that anything is possible and that if you put your mind to something there are no limitations to what you are capable of doing. If there is one thing that sets our team apart from others, it is that we believe we can accomplish things others consider unbelievable.
I once bought note cards from a website and am now part of the weekly inspirational quote e-mail. Ironically, the other day I had a rough practice and returned to the locker room to find this weekly e-mail had arrived. "Things don't go wrong and break your heart so that you can become bitter and give up. They happen to break you down and build you up so that you can be all that you were intended to be," -Charles Jones.
Learning lessons from the challenges I have faced leaves me optimistic for the upcoming season. I have a wealth of knowledge, confidence and understanding that I didn't have one short year ago and can only dream of where this could lead.
