Emily Lighthart '22 Recruiting Profile

Hi! I'm Emily, and I'm currently a senior at Jefferson Academy in Colorado. I started swimming in 5th grade, but didn't grow to love the sport until 7th grade. Now, I've been swimming competitively and passionately for 5 years. My growth exploded at the end of my sophomore year, when I qualified for 4A High School State! 

In addition to keeping me physically active, swimming has taught me about grit. It's certainly not easy to get up early for practices or compete in difficult events, but I know that I grow as an athlete and person with every stroke, and that is enough to keep me going! Not only has swimming taught me about grit, but also leadership. I lead my team through stretches and other team bonding activities. I try to keep my team positive and healthy by complimenting my peers and encouraging them to take care of their bodies and continue swimming their hardest.

Although I have yet to decide what I want to study in college, I have a passion for  politics, biology, law enforcement, and environmental studies. I want to pursue something that can make a difference in the lives of my community.

Athletics have always posed to be a struggle for me more than others. I was born with a birth defect known as clubbed feet, so being active and continuing a competitive lifestyle isn't always smooth sailing. That obstacle, however, has only made me more driven. Without having been born with such a defect, I doubt I'd have developed my strong sense of courage and ability to keep trying to improve. 

Of course, I possess the traditional athletic characteristics, like willpower and dedication. Beyond those basic traits, however, I have the courage to continue doing difficult things, the drive to push myself into new realms of success, and the leadership capabilities to be a powerful force on your team.