Personal Narrative: Springboard Diving

As I stood on the board, I imagined myself soaring through the air, picturing every move I made until sliding into the water as perfectly as I could manage. I competed as a Springboard Diver for six years of my life. Diving helped me realize and strengthen core characteristics about myself that I may never have recognized without participating in this amazing sport. Even though I am no longer a Springboard Diver that does not mean it still does not influence aspects of my every day life. Diving is unique in how it is more mentally taxing than it is physically. Over the years, I’ve competed in many diving meets, but the one I performed best at was the one where I was competing against myself. Late into my diving career I went to a dive meet where I was the only diver in my age bracket. At first, I was disappointed, the point of diving in a meet where I did not have any competition eluded me and I did not understand how it would help me become a better diver. My coach helped me realize that this was a rare opportunity to compete against only myself. At that meet I didn’t worry about how I would place, I didn’t worry about everybody else’s dives, I concentrated on diving better than I have ever before. I ended that meet with the highest score of my diving career, earning …show more content…
Standing backwards on the end of a springboard, ten feet into the air with the majority of your foot hanging off, trying not to think about hitting your face on the board or landing flat on your back takes much more mental strength than the physical strength of actually completing the dive. Diving permanently influenced my ability to push myself harder than ever before, gifting me with the essential ability to push myself past my fears. Not letting fear of what could happen hold me back from the amazing opportunities that present themselves when you push yourself to act in spite of