Pool Creative Writing

As I approached the diving board I could hear my heart pounding nervously in my chest. You see, I'd never been in a pool before and NEVER on an actual diving board. But, I knew how it was supposed to feel because I'd dreamt of doing this perfect jack-knife dive a hundred times. I was ready.

After giving the signal to my friend that I was ready, I emulously approached the steps and sprang from the board- a perfect but imperfect dive. Perfect because everyone poolside oohed & ahhed followed by loud applause. This applause continued until...I didn't surface as planned. I was supposed to curve my hands after entering the water so I would surface and it played out fine in my head. But, I was so excited that I had actually accomplished a near impossible

I realized that I was the character and my time was about up. Just as I swallowed what I thought was my last drink of air and chlorinated water, I gave up and slowly fell toward the bottom of the pool. I could see my friend trying to gain the attention of the life-guard, I could even see the tears on my mother's face. All of a sudden, I was yanked up from the water and someone had laid me poolside and began CPR. I coughed up that awful tasting water and cried uncontrollably. Tears of relief and tears of

I had a passion for people, service, justice, and politics, but still wasn't sure how I would incorporate these passions into a meaningful, fulfilling career. When I first got to college, I began volunteering at an after-school program targeted at at-risk youth. The goal of this program was to provide disadvantaged students with the resources necessary to excel academically, socially, and personally. This role allowed me to gain insight on some of the issues that are prevalent in our society and affecting our youth at an alarming rate. It led me to the realization that to break these generational trends, it is integral to get involved. I began looking more into the role of our government and what could be done on a federal level. I interned with a South Carolina Congressman and a South Carolina Mayor, as a way to gain insight on the inner workings of federal and local government. Inspired by these experiences, I continued on to becoming a member of South Carolina's Congressional Advisory Board. From this opportunity, I was able to analyze current issues in our society and conduct policy research. From there, I along with members of the board, drafted policy recommendations and lobbied to various members of our Congress to recommend solutions to better suit the needs of the people in our