Lauren Kidder '21 Recruiting Profile

    My name is Lauren. I started my journey as a competitive athlete when I was seven years old as a swimmer for my local YMCA swim team. I immediately hit success and continued to knock out the competition until middle school when I hit a major plateau. Although I loved the water and getting to be around my friends, I wasn’t happy. That year I struggled with sports anxiety and panic attacks more than I had ever in my six years of competing. I fought to find purpose in a sport that I no longer enjoyed. The summer after 8th grade I signed up for a week of rowing camp. Although I would have liked to jump right into rowing and quit swimming, I knew I had to honor the commitment to my swim team, and so I stayed until the winter season of freshman year. I had immediately taken a great interest in the sport, and knowing absolutely nothing about it, took a leap of faith. I never looked back. 

    I was definitely not a natural. I threw myself entirely at the sport and came to practice every day eager to work hard and build connections with my teammates. What was originally unnatural and forced became instinct. After only four short seasons, I can confidently say that my teammates are now my best friends, and have stuck with me through thick and thin. Here are some things that my teammates have said about me, “works on form and improves every time”, “Super positive and great work ethic”, and “Very hard working and motivated”.