Plunging into the deep end

It’s 4:30 a.m. Her blonde curls are up in a bun, and she’s dressed in sweatpants. She walks into the Westside Aquatic Center. It’s the place she spends most of her high school career; she is there to improve her passion. Her feet walk along the path she has walked countless times before. The smell of chlorine hits her nostrils; nowadays it doesn’t bother her as much as it used to.

This is routine for her. Her character has been partially shaped here. The chlorine virtually runs through her veins. Pulsing and pumping like the adrenaline does those few seconds she’s submerged in the water.  

After meeting a variety of coaches at various gyms, senior Kara Eisenmann is now finishing out her high school career as a swim team captain with a promising future at Texas A&M.

“[A&M] kind of tied together my whole recruiting experience because I just felt so at home there, and I really liked the people and the coaches were amazing,” Eisenmann said. “It’s really important to me to fit in to have a sense of family within a team so that’s what I was really looking for and A&M just stood out.”

From the swim lane to the hallway, Eisenmann embodies a sense of leadership. Throughout her busy schedule she still manages to excel in every aspect.

“Kara’s seamless transition from the athletic world to the academic setting is rare and refreshing,” English teacher Amber Counts said. “She is a true leader – often quietly exerting influence over others just by the mere force of her maturity, grace and positive attitude.”

Swim has been integrated into her life from the early stages; it is the sport that is influencing and shaping who she is. Along with her academic ambitions, Eisenmann has high obtainable goals set for herself. Dedicating herself to her dream of one day being in the Olympics, she pushes herself in order to prepare for her upcoming challenges.

“[Swimming] means a lot more now than it did in my younger years,” Eisenmann said. “Now it’s more intense and I have more goals than I did when I was younger. Me improving over the years just pushes me even more, now that I have intentions within swimming.”

Eisenmann carries herself with humility and confidence. Within swimming she prides herself in doing her best. Every weekday she practices twice a day, and once on Saturdays. Eisenmann displays a sense of dedication absent in a majority of high school students.

“Kara’s work ethic and enthusiasm for learning are already at a college level,” Counts said. “Kara never settled for doing the bare minimum; she put extra effort and creativity into each assignment.”

She also transfers this outside of swimming to her friends. She makes sure everyone is accommodated and she supports them through their own struggles.

“Kara is the type of friend that will never put herself before you,” junior swimmer Branden Lujan said. “She is always humble and she always makes sure the people around her are feeling good.”

The water represents so much more to Eisenmann; its waves and chemicals have shaped her mind, body and soul. The blue liquid has forced her mind to mimic its fluid movements adjusting to her hardships and triumphs.

“Swimming has taught me a lot more about life in general than it has about the sport,” Eisenmann said. “It teaches dedication [and] perseverance. I think it has helped me grow more as a person.”

Wherever Eisenmann goes she leaves a lasting impression, forever imprinting the people and places around her. Her high school journey is coming to end, and many are sad to see her go, but her presence alone has done so much for her high school community.

“Kara is one of those people who reminds teachers that we can make a difference and that we do have students who value what we have to share,” Counts said. “She also serves as a reminder that there are wonderful young people who prove that millennials are not what the worst stereotypes claim them to be. Simply put, I really appreciated each conversation I had with Kara, and I am honored that I got to work with her this year.”

Not only has she benefited her community, her community has also helped her. Her position as the swim team captain helped her discover another side of herself.

“I feel a really big responsibility but I think that [being captain is a] really a great experience for me,” Eisenmann said. “I think that I am helping inspire other people which is a really good feeling.”