Katherine Kucera '22 Recruiting Profile

I don't think I realized it at the time, but diving has encouraged me to take risks that I never would have thought possible. When I reflect on my diving career, I view diving as a metaphor for approaching my challenges. Before completing the dive, I don’t know if I will smack (or belly flop, for lack of better words) or rip (a dive with no splash), but ultimately, I have to trust in that preparation and hard work, and take a leap of faith.

     I think it is important to preface this by saying that I was by far the shyest student in my preschool and elementary school classes. I was resistant to trying new things for fear of the unknown. I hugged my parents’ legs like a koala when I was forced to meet new people or try new things. I took tumbling classes (of course with my parents close by on the sidelines), but a neighbor of mine encouraged me to try a diving class and I immediately fell in love with the sport. Along the way, I grew bolder about which dives I would try. I learned persistence because when I would smack, I would have to go back up on the board and try the dive again. Over time, this allowed me to take greater risks, such as walking onto the gymnastics team as a junior with only tumbling skills and a willingness to learn. It emboldened me to approach a new student sitting alone in the lunchroom and try speaking to her with my still-untested classroom Spanish. (We are now close friends, and my Spanish, as well as my understanding of the world, is growing deeper.) Diving also encouraged this homebody to register for a study abroad trip to England and Scotland.

    The other thing I realized was how much diving (and sports in general) was a mental game. In my first meets, I would visibly shake and rapid-fire text my parents for reassurance. Over time (a lot of time), I have slowly learned to manage my emotions and trust in my preparation. This is one of the reasons I want to study psychology or social work — to help others like me to succeed through emotional regulation. 

Looking back on my diving experience, I know that I have learned more than just the dives themselves. I have learned discipline, mental strength, and how to communicate my needs to others. I also have learned to accept constructive criticism and cheer on my other teammates. I have learned how to calm my nerves and take chances because I can trust in my preparation. All of these skills, along with my Spanish (which I hope to strengthen further in college), will be beneficial to me in the field of psychology or social work. I am looking forward to pursuing these passions in college and in the future.