Mitchell Martin '17 Recruiting Profile

I  found a passion for swimming at a young age and I've been in the sport for over a decade now. As I grew, I noticed I had a leg length discrepancy. This was due to the cancer treatment I received when I was 2 years old. As I grew older I saw only horror as my left leg not only grew longer in length , but also larger in circumference than my right , due to the radiation treatment. There were points on the journey where I wanted to quit as I underwent  surgery after surgery. For a while I continued to swim , but I didn't care about it much until something changed , this school year ( junior year). I asked myself, "Is this what I want in life? To continue to be held back while watching others succeed?" From then on I started to overcome many of the mental challenges I had with swimming. With more challenges on the way I started training harder than I ever have. As I feel the pain coming along, I push through it , not just physically , but with all my heart!!! I have discovered swimming to be my best friend!

I don't like to focus on my disability , but rather my ability. Overcoming cancer, the battle scars, and the self conscious feeling I get when people stare at my leg,  has made me the strong courageous person I am today. Every time I get back up from a set back, I win. This way I never lose. I may never be the fastest guy in the pool, but you will never find anyone more tenacious than I am!  This past swim season (Junior year), I had two set backs, back to back. After swimming competitively for over 12 yrs, I busted my heel doing a flip turn in practice one morning. Turns out, that same morning I was leaving school early anyway to see an oral surgeon about a large tumor in my left jaw. Two weeks later I was back in the water, only to be out again, after the biopsy on the jaw bone tumor. The biopsy caused my face, on the left side , to swell like a balloon. The pain was horrific! I realized I had to look on the bright side. The tumor is not cancerous and at least I am alive to go through this difficult situation. I ended up placing 8th in the 500 free at Districts inspite of my set backs this season! 

I am thankful that I was selected in October "15" for a rare opportunity. Our area has a program for juniors to participate in called The Lonestar Highschool leadership program. You can read about it here http://www.lonestar.edu/18045.htm. I received my award on  April 9Th , 2016 . Only 2 juniors were selected from each school and I was one of them! I am thankful for my swim coach who wrote the recommendation letter that helped me get in. I am so thankful for the opportunity to be a part of something that has sharpened my leadership skills , given me insight into some of the different careers that might be of interest to me , and taking part in giving back to my community. I have made new friends and it has been a wonderful experience all around.

Through all of my ups and downs I have learned valuable coping skills that I believe are invaluable to myself, any team I am a part of , or school I attend. My trials have prepared me to take my next step after high school , to keep pursuing my dreams and never give up. My goals for college are to learn the skills necessary in the classroom, in the pool , and the campus , to be with me for the rest of my life and to pass them on to the next generation. 

Thank you for taking the time to read about me!