Swimming Involving Thick Institutions with Work Life Balance at UW

Winter Writer, Alex Huang & Wan Yee Chan

Transitioning to a university campus as a freshman can be extremely intimidating. Our group found ways that helped us navigate through college life through extracurricular activities such as swimming. Learning about examples of thick institutions, we found how important swimming is to college students, especially with access to a pool on campus. According to one person we interviewed, the access to a well-maintained on-campus pool was a game-changer. “It became our sanctuary, a place to de-stress after a long day of classes, bond with teammates, and find a sense of belonging within the larger university environment,” they shared.

While we discussed the importance of swimming, we all commonly agreed that it was a way to relieve stress from our academic courses and find relaxation in the sport. When conducting our interviews, we made sure to listen to some of the benefits our interviewees had to say about their experience swimming on campus or if they had even done so. It was important for us to hear from individuals about the positive or even negative impacts that sports, specifically swimming, have played in their college lives. One key phrase we found interesting is balance. Helen brought up the importance of balancing school life and her daily schedule, and swimming has played an important role in it. “Swimming gives me a better understanding of the importance of sports in universities,” she said.

While connecting with individuals to conduct these interviews, we wanted to hear and learn from their experiences. In one interview, a friend explained how she incorporated swimming into her everyday life at UW. “One big takeaway from this source was that we loved how she truly has been able to connect with the physical location and the features of the swimming pool, which we were able to see from a different perspective,” we noted. Her passion for this sport and the impact it has had on her is what we found to be so inspiring. It made us realize the different outlooks people have on swimming and how having it as part of the campus has positively affected them.

We also spoke with Ziyan Zhou, a University of Washington student and swimming enthusiast, who shared how swimming on campus has been a crucial part of his routine. “It’s absolutely amazing! There’s nothing like hitting the pool after a day crammed with back-to-back classes. It just kind of melts all the stress away,” he said. Ziyan highlighted the convenience and community aspect of swimming on campus, mentioning how it has helped him manage his time and stay disciplined with his studies. “Having a pool right here on campus has been a game changer. It’s so much easier to manage my time,” he added.

Additionally, another student who swims less frequently finds the occasional swim a refreshing break from the routine. “Even though I don’t swim every day, just knowing that the pool is there for when I need it makes a huge difference. It’s like a mental safety net,” he mentioned. This perspective further underscores how the presence of a swimming facility on campus supports student well-being, regardless of how often they use it.

Incorporating a swimming pool on campus allows students to become more versed with different activities while also attending school with a common purpose of bringing individuals together through a shared love for a sport. and leaves a significant lasting mark on their lives. Looking back at the different class themes during this quarter, we found that the New York Times article “How to Leave a Mark on People” resembled what we see swimming has accomplished for this college campus and the community behind it. Reading this article, a quote that stuck out to us when speaking about thick institutions, “they take advantage of people’s desire to do good and arouse their higher longings,” (Brooks, pg.3). This quote allowed us to create a connection with how swimming continues to have a large impact on students, giving them the opportunity to take advantage of what they consider to be important to them through a positive lens.

Resources:

“Is elite athlete “arrogance” a performance hack? Part 1.” The Eclectic Moose. 10 August 2012, Is elite athlete “arrogance” a performance hack? Part 1 – The Eclectic Moose (eclectic-consult.com)

Yee Chan, Wan. “Swimming at the UW IMA.”  08 May 2024.

We did not use ChatGPT while creating our final story.