Teacher Instructions: To begin, you will write a short paper summarizing who you think you are. This can be fairly unstructured, as it reflects whatever idiosyncratic understanding of yourself that you have. For ideas, you can talk about adjectives that you would use to describe yourself, types of experiences that you like or dislike, groups you identify with, characteristic behavioral or emotional reactions to certain situations, thinking style (e.g. rational vs. intuitive), and how much you think the person you project to others matches you “true self.” You can also expand out to different facets of yourself, such as “me around my parents” and “me around my boyfriend.” The more detail you provide here, the more you will likely get out of the assignment throughout the term. Of course, you are free to omit anything that you don’t feel comfortable sharing with me.
My Instructions: I would like you to write an introduction about me, focusing on my deep connection with swimming, which was a central part of my identity from childhood until I stopped competing. Describe how swimming shaped my daily life as a child, illustrating the dedication and the countless hours spent training in the pool, aiming for personal bests and perfecting various strokes. Highlight the intense focus on perfectionism and the hard work that swimming demanded, qualities that I deeply internalized. Then, transition into discussing the phase after I quit swimming. Emphasize the challenges and the identity shift I experienced moving away from being an athlete. It’s important to convey how the traits I developed through swimming—such as discipline, a strong work ethic, and the pursuit of excellence—have continued to influence me in other areas of life after the sport. These qualities should be shown as enduring aspects of my character that drive my approach to academics, career, and personal development. The tone should be reflective and inspirational, showcasing the profound impact of my swimming career on my personal growth and how it continues to shape my outlook and actions. Make sure you touch on the ideas given in the teachers instructions as well.
