One Amazing Break

It's Sunday, the last day of spring break and I don't want this to end. Do I really need to go back to campus? I'm having too much fun with my life, who honestly needs school? Kidding of course!

Here's why I've been loving this week...

Last Friday, March 16th, I will remember that day for the rest of my life...I'm not being over dramatic either I promise. I somehow was introduced to President Clinton that night by Governor Malloy. I had no clue this way going to happen to me, just completely starstruck. Everything was a blur, I felt like I was in a movie because everything seemed to line up perfectly that day. Once everything was over that night, I just wanted to stay awake. My life was better than any dream I could have thought of. So, I decided to write all my thoughts down and send off an email to my political science professor of the experience (see below).

Hi Professor,

What a day, I'm still in utter shock!

Meeting with Governor Malloy was great! We didn't talk about politics, rather about disabilities and overcoming challenges. I had a great conversation with him about his disability and how he memorizes his speeches or publicly speaks off the top of his head. He wanted to know everything about me; my life story, my disability, my goals, how I got to Trinity, how Trinity has accommodated me, etc. He gave me some great advice which he learned from his mom; that no matter what challenges society may put on you for being different, the only quality that makes one successful is by helping others. We talked in his office for roughly 45 minutes. His staff were the ones who got me the ticket to hear President Clinton speak tonight so I formally thanked him. As I was leaving, Governor Malloy said if there was anything I needed help with to never hesitate to ask, so I took him up on his offer. I basically said before outright asking him, that if I didn't ask this question, I would always wonder 'what if' and also if I didn't ask him this question, it would be an automatic 'no'. So I said, I know this may be very hard and this is a once in a lifetime opportunity, but as you're also seeing President Clinton tonight, by any chance may I meet him? Governor Malloy said he'll see what he can do and he gave his assistant my contact information. They told me to show up at the Bushnell for 6 as President Clinton's speech started for 7.

I arrived at 6, had my ticket and saw Governor Malloy as he entered and said how he can't make any promises but he'd see what he could do for me to meet President Clinton. By 6:30 no one had called me so I went to my seat and assumed it was a no. Around 6:40 someone official approached me and said to follow her. We went back stage pass all these lines and there I was with Governor Malloy passing Nancy Wyman in addition to a huge line of people waiting to take a picture with the former President including Senator Blumethal. I walked with Governor Malloy straight up to President Clinton and the Governor formally introduced me to President Clinton as the Trinity student who is training for the Paralympics and a human rights major. As secret service had my camera (we were not allowed to take pictures) there was a professional photographer from the CT Forum taking pictures of us talking and then a picture of the Governor, President Clinton, and I. I still cannot believe this happened to me!! I just told the former President how I'm a human rights major and greatly admire and appreciate all of his humanitarian work and cannot wait to hear his speech tonight. The Governor and I walked away after and I gave him the biggest hug and could not stop thanking him. He said not to worry about getting the pictures as the CT Forum will email him all the pictures he was in and he will then forward me the picture of us. I then met the Governor's wife and was talking to her about the informative conversation I had with her husband earlier that day and she hugged me as I left the backstage. As I left the backstage and went into the lobby a reporter from the Java section of the Hartford Courant came up to me and wanted to know everything about my experience meeting President Clinton! She took my picture, wanted to know how I got to meet the former President, where I go to school, etc. She said this will be online tonight/tomorrow morning. I don't know how this happens to me!!!


President Clinton's speech was great! He talked about his humanitarian efforts and how he envisions government's role in society. He said that the private sector, government, and NGOs should work interdependently as that is the best way people can flourish. He didn't talk much about politics, it was more about bipartisan efforts. In addition, he said how this was an amazing time to be alive. He pointed to Brazil as they work for shared prosperity, responsibility, economically and socially. He said his American dream is to continue its prosperity and for people to have the available resources to achieve their goals, through education, jobs, etc. He also said that the education problem is very complex, but what we need to do is understand one's differences in order to move forward to create solutions; he believes that we should be aware of childrens' home lives in addition to what they do in school. He also stressed that anger fogs reason and logic; President Clinton is truly an optimist.

I'm hand writing Governor Malloy a heartfelt thank you tomorrow. I'm so grateful for everything and I'm still in shock I met President Clinton!

Thank you again for everything,
Kristin

I have this picture saved on my phone, so whenever I start to think something's impossible or not doable (not to sound too corny)...well, this will be a friendly reminder that I'm wrong :)


On Tuesday I went to visit some of my best friends at Northeastern (shout out to Allison and Jen). I absolutely love these girls! They took me around Boston as I've only been to the city for business trips and fell in love with this place (shout out to Ray Allen and my Celtics). I'm seriously considering moving to Boston after graduation, but a lot can happen within the next year and a half.

For the next few days I was back in the water training. I had to take some time off to let my right arm recover, but no worries, back to mermaid mode! I've been doing a lot of freestyle to strengthen different muscles in my upper body as I do so much backstroke all the time. My coaches are still not allowing me to look at my times and are having me base everything off of how I'm feeling in the water and right now I'm feeling really strong. Last night I was looking over my training schedule for April and Trials in June are going to come fast! I decided a while back that I'm going to treat Trials just like any other meet so I can stay relaxed and focused. I'm actually looking forward to this meet as my training program has been going so well this season. I cannot thank my training team enough!

On Friday I filmed my first segment for the Endlesss Abilities Documentary (shout out to Zack, Will, Tripp, and invisible Harvey). I've been talking with the crew since February and I was SO excited and honored to be apart of their project. The crew is made up of 4 guys in their 20s from Rhode Island who decided to film their experience traveling across the country while visiting physically challenged athletes at various levels in different sports. The purpose of the film is to unite able-bodied and physically challenged athletes has we all have the same goals and love sports. You need to check them out ---> http://www.endlessabilities.org/! The film will be out and 2013 and I will certainly let you know how and where you can watch it! Anyway, on Friday we did a basic interview at one of the pools I practice at and so far, that was one of the funnest interviews I've ever done. I'm really happy that people my age are interested in this topic that's so near and dear to me.  I can't wait for you to see the film. The crew will be coming back to film me in the water in May and then after Trials.


Saturday I was planning to get ahead on homework, but decided to curl up in a blanket and fall asleep with my dog.


And now it's Sunday, the last day of spring break. I seriously want to have a 6 week extension as it would go perfectly with the beginning of summer. Today will be super busy! In about 5 minutes I'll be off to the pool to see my coach, then immediately head up to Hartford for the first ever CT Disability Film Festival. They'll be showing Warrior Champions (I highly recommend you watching it) and then I'll be speaking on a panel after the showing. Then, I'll be back at Trinity, scramming to do homework and unpacking everything.


Oh! And BIG shout out to my best friend Scout! She told me last night how she qualified for London Para Trials in track for the 100 yesterday!! She's my motivator.

I absolutely loved this week and cannot wait to see how the rest of the semester unfolds. It only goes to show that the best is yet to come :)

Details, Details

So driving back from my meet at Rutgers last night I wrote 
everything down about the meet, the variables, what
 I had control over, what was good, what I 
can improve on. I woke up this morning absolutely so
 tired, more fatigued than I have ever felt in a very long time.

Rutgers events- 100 free,50 back, and lastly 100 back. My times 
were consistent  and slightly faster than my last meet. No best times,
 but I've been training really hard. I was 2 seconds off my 100 back 
American Record, and for having to improvise my starts as I 
forgot my starting device. 

What was good- finishes, turns, stroke/pull. My coach I went to 
Greece with said this was the best she's ever seen me. I'm the most 
water efficient I've ever been. She was really impressed by my
 finishes and there was no hesitation with my turns. I was swimming
 straight and sprinted into the wall for a finish.

What can improve on- making the last 50 in my 100s faster as I know I 
can swim under the times I did this weekend. I'll be improving on keeping
 both of my 50s in the 100s consistent.
 I can certainly improve on certain techniques in regards to my backstroke. 

Variables- The air on the pool deck was colder than the water, I was 
shivering the entire time even with 3 towels and a jacket on. The new 
Lazer I brought was too loose on me as there were no red marks on my
 shoulders and there were major gaps in my upper body. Had to 
improvise my backstroke start as the meet was using national 
guidelines (which I didn't know) and was not 
allowed to use the gutter and didn't know I needed to bring my starting 
rope. I improvised by having my coach hold my feet at the wall and start
 by laying on my back instead of what I've been practicing. For the 100 
free and 50 back I may have had 5 minutes in between those events, if 
any. In addition, I was in the car for 3 hours that morning driving 
from CT to Rutgers. So many variables that effected my races,
 but I managed everything well. 

Mentally- The more I relaxed, the faster I was. I was way too intense, 
stressed, and put too much pressure on myself as I was concentrating on 
what times I wanted which is the absolute worst thing to do. I need to 
learn how to let go and know swimming has a place in my life. I 
definitely need to stop being so hard on myself. My true goal is to keep 
going, improving, and to know that I swim faster when I'm relaxed and 
not stressing about things I cannot control.

All in all, I'm still exhausted, but loved the meet! I loved cheering
 on our new swimmers yesterday; it was truly refreshing. 
Currently, I'm going back to bed, study for my midterms 
and train again tomorrow.
 I know it's 9am, but good night :)