One of my earliest memories is looking out on a cliff and seeing the Atlantic Ocean. My dreams at night consisted of houses being turned into pools and the never answered aspirations to become a mermaid implemented by Disney. My favorite movie was and is still "The 13th Year". I wished every year to be a mermaid, to breathe underwater, to never have to resurface. My dad dreamed of being a sailor, so my life became a never-ending voyage to various coastal places. Sailboats became my standard mode of transportation. I grew up being around water. The ocean became my companion, my playmate, the crashing waves were my lullaby. I was introduced to swimming at eleven months old and began to compete at four. Much of my life centered on late nights at the pool, chlorine, green tinted hair, sunburned cheeks, and pruney toes. I found my love in water polo and crew, not the never-ending laps. Dinner table discussions far exceeded the traditional “how was your day?”. Popular topics included the evolution of naval architecture, various Naval war heroes, and the impact that the transition from sail to steam had on our society. There are many things I could say about my life that would give a picture of me. But to fully understand, this is key: my true peace comes when I am diving, when I’m suspended in water, breathing, and finally becoming a mermaid...