Dear Future Me,

I never want to forget the memory of swimming my first swim meet as a child. I remember being confused where I was when my parents made me step on the outside pool deck. I had only ever had lessons in the indoor pool; everything was new to me. The lane I was sorted in was on the leftmost side of the pool and the furthest lane. Backstroke was the event. I started in the water holding onto the deck, then pushed off when I heard the echo of the buzzer ring out through the air. Each stroke after the other, I remember moving through the water ungracefully, yet making progress slowly. It was only a singular lap, but immediate relief flooded my head as I saw the flap of the blue and white flags hanging above my head. At the end of the day, I received an orange ribbon. It was smooth and silky, but cut on the ends with gold writing and tied by a measly yellow string. I didn’t earn first prize, but I was proud of the accomplishment and of my ribbon. Just as I try to be proud of my accomplishments to this day, even if it didn’t always end in a first place prize.

Sincerely,

SC