When I’m 70 feet below the surface of the ocean, living only by the metal tank connected to my mouth by a single hose, I’m at peace. I find serenity in being weightless under the pressure of three atmospheres, surrounded by the countless shades of coral and fish. But first I have to get there. Unless the ocean is completely calm, I’m probably losing my lunch on the trip to the dive site. There’s not even anything...

When I visited campus, I had extra time before my tour, so I showed myself around the athletic facilities: flawlessly blended with such a fantastic academic institution. Walking into the field house, I immediately had an urge to run a lap right there. I saw the records on the wall, and I wanted to beat them. I hoped to be able to compete in Lamb-Miller, and when I contacted Coach Noon, he furthered those hopes, offering me a spot on...