Jarrod Charles '26 Recruiting Profile

I come from small island surrounded by multiple other islands separated by water. Being from The Bahamas and being surrounded by water you were kind of taught to swim and not to fear the water. From a young age i was very active and athletic i played basketball, ran track and field, wanted to play soccer, just really anything athletic but the water is something I always loved so i started being taught to swim at the age of 4 so you could say I've been swimming my entire life. It was not until i turned 8 my aunt invited me to come swim at her summer camp she held. If it wasn't for her pushing my parents to let me go and join a swim club I probably wouldn't have started swimming competitively. So that's where my journey began, through the years of my early swimming career I've had the opportunity to make lifetime friends, break records, travel to various countries and represent my country on the national stage. This sport is one that I have a love and hate relationship with but I won't even stop swimming, it has taught me discipline, patience, to be grateful and humble, given me the opportunity to express myself.

I would say that I balance school and my sport very well I currently hold a 3.5gpa. I'm pushing myself so that when a graduate it'll be nothing less than a 3.7gpa. As for college I'm still undecided on what i want to major in for sure but i have time to think. I want to graduate college with a Masters Degree in my major. With the pandemic my swimming and academics slipped i had to unfortunately take a break from the sport because of my mental health. I was out for 3 months coming back I would say was the hardest thing i had to work 5 times as hard to get back in shape physically. Nationals championships came and i had to deal with my first ever serious injury, I pulled my shoulder muscle and had a inflamed tendon i still swam through the pain walking away with 4 bronze medals I would say that is my first obstacle this sport has thrown at me. I don't like talking about myself but I'd say that I'm very persistent, dedicated, and ambitious. I'll push myself to the limit to reach the goals i set for myself. I am caring and loving person, someone that cares more about if someone else is okay than himself. I'm shy until I get to know you and someone that'll do anything for the ones I love.