“If you can’t imagine yourself not doing it, and your life without it, then you might as well try.”
That is Tacy Jamison’s philosophy on swimming competitively, and so far it has gotten her right where she needs to be.
Next year Jamsion will be attending Trinity College next year to continue her swimming career beyond ETHS. Swimming has always been a big part of her life, and now Jamison has the chance to take her ambitions to the next level at Trinity.
“I went out and visited on an official visit where I got to stay with the team, go to classes, be on campus, and I just kind of knew that that was the right place for me,” says Jamison. “I really love all of the people who I’ve met on the team. So I’m really excited to be a part of a very tight knit community. The programs at Trinity are pretty exceptional, so I’m excited to be part of a higher academic level institution, and then I’m just excited for the college experience.”
While she is very happy with the results of the search for the right college, Jamison does admit that it is a bit stressful.
“I definitely think going to a really small school is a little nerve wracking, just because Evanston is bigger than the college I’m going to,” acknowledged Jamison. “But I also knew that I wanted to go to a smaller school, so I’m pretty okay with that. And then being farther from home, I think is a little bit exciting as well.”
As she looks back on her years swimming at ETHS, Jamison remembers a core memory, “Going to state was a pretty once-in-a-lifetime kind of experience. So just getting to do that with my team and being able to be a part of something bigger than I am.”
Jamison is also grateful towards her water polo coaches Maggie, Riley, and Olivia that helped her along the way, “They taught me how to love a sport in a different way than I think I’ve loved swimming and other sports that I’ve played. And they developed a drive in me for swimming, even though it was in a different sport.”
One final time, Jamison reflects on her four years at ETHS and takes a minute to appreciate all she is going to miss about them.
“Definitely, all of the people, like Kira,” she says as she gestures towards her friend and smiles. “I’m gonna miss her, and all the teammates who I’ve swam with since I was five years old. Then also just the community in general, for sure.”
