Grade 10 student Ada has been a formidable addition to our GESS Wildcats, creating new records for our swim team and her personal best. Hear from her in our student spotlight.
We have been seeing your achievements and we hear you are preparing for more competitions to come. Share with us what are some of these events you are busy with?
As of now I have just finished competing at the 2024 Doha World Championships and will be preparing for the upcoming Singapore national age group competitions in March.
When did you first dive into your passion for swimming, and what has kept you going all these years?
I began swimming at the age of 8 and for a quite funny reason. My father and I were making a bet on how fast I could swim for ice cream – which was how I began my very first training lesson. After that, I basically fell in love with the sport of swimming and it became more than just a hobby. I love to swim with my friends, and I love meeting new people at all the exciting swim meets.
What would you consider your biggest challenges in your sport pursuit, and also the biggest rewards so far?
As I grew older there were multiple challenges that I started to encounter as swimming was not the only thing I pursued in life. I found it very difficult to find the right balance between swimming, academics, and socializing with friends. However, I’ve always found great motivation looking at all the great athletes who travel and compete at all these amazing places, and that always kept me going.
We recognise the challenge with juggling school alongside competitive swimming. What are some ways you feel GESS support you or create opportunities for you, in and out of classroom learning?
Balancing school and swimming has always been very difficult. The relentless schedule of morning and afternoon training often leaves me feeling extremely tired at school. However, with the support of my coach and knowing that my teammates are also going through the same thing, I know that I’m not alone and that I have people rooting for me. The school has also been extremely supportive. From organizing swim meets both in and out of Singapore to investing in top-notch training equipment, the school has always shown commitment to helping me and the team grow.
Besides swimming, what are your other interests in life? What do you spend your leisure time doing?
Besides swimming I also find great passion for other sports including volleyball, football, and a bunch of other sports. However, because of swimming, I learned to make sacrifices as playing volleyball and football had a higher chance of me getting injured. In my leisure time, just like any other teenager, I like to hang out with friends or even just stay at home and watch Netflix.
Any word of advice for fellow schoolmates who may be thinking of pursuing their interests and passion, or trying to overcome their personal fears and concerns?
In my opinion, if you want to do something you should just go ahead and give it your best. Sure, you may have many doubts and fears, and believe I understand, you should still just trust yourself and believe in your abilities. There’s no time in life to worry over potential failures. 20 to 30 years from now, wouldn’t you rather reminisce about the risks you took and the dreams you chased, than contemplate the opportunities left unexplored?
