Week three

We are at that point, it's week three and we're starting to hit that weird part in the season. This is the time where everyone starts to get sick, fall behind on homework, struggle a little in practice and start to miss home. This is the best and worst part of the season. It really shows you who you are, it shows how much you really can accomplish and how far you  can push yourself.

We are two weeks from our alumni meet and a month from Hawaii, followed by our first meet of the season, home opener against U of A. This year is flying by already. Senior year can't be going by this fast, there's so much to do. I want to get the most of out of this year. 

Siting in class I am starting to feel everything already hit me. I am so sore from weights.... FROM MONDAY! I am mentally exhausted from all the readings and really just want to nap. There's no time in the day for that though.

My coach always says you have three things:

1. social life

2. school

3. diving

Now pick two, as that's all you have time for. That makes me sad because I have social life, school, diving, friends, work, me time, church and more. So if I have to pick two I am making some big sacrifices, but there is also time for everything, you just have to learn how to manage it.

That's what I am constantly working on finding that balance. 

-Kersten xo 

Change

Change is good they say... At the moment at work we are all struggling with yet again more change. I'm not talking about money, hey that kind of change is wonderful, I'm talking about changing the way things are done.

Has anyone ever heard that saying "if it's not broke don't fix it?" Well we are moving into new technology at our workplace and we are struggling. We are trying a new key system and it is failure after failure. Nothing seems to be working and we are all getting extremely frustrated.

But I guess as I am writing this I am starting to realize a few things. This past week during class our TA was telling us that we should take a different perspective, see things from another way. Hmm maybe I can relate this change with sport.

The first few times I change something about my dive it's frustrating and annoying, but as time goes on it starts to become natural and it was worth the change. Maybe this will be good in time. This system could make our workplace more functional. At the moment I am in the frustrated phase, so I am hoping the results phase comes sooner than later.

Positive thoughts, positive thinking. One key down, thousands to go.

-Kersten xo.

Life in the fast lane

Busy, busy busy. That's all I can describe my life as at the moment. It's one thing after another, but that's life as a division 1 athlete. 

At the moment I'm sitting in class listening to lecture thinking about the past week of school and practice, things have changed so much since freshman year. 

I struggled every day in practice freshman year. I hurt for days and nearly cried during dry-land. I wrote down the dives I wanted to learn during my duration as an athlete at the U. I could barley stay awake in class and was struggling to do homework.

Senior year I am doing every dive I ever wrote down on that board. I am killing it in dry-land, getting better each day, 3 more pushups, 5 more pike ups, day by day. I am staying awake in class and maintaining a 3.6 GPA. 

I am really enjoying my classes this semester. I get to go out into the community and do really interesting projects and work with different groups with an amazing group of people. 

I am loving diving. I am shocked at how well everything is falling into place. I worked my butt off this summer diving and I felt I wasn't getting anywhere, but after practice on Tuesday I got out of the water and Richard told me I am mid-season ready. That's the greatest compliment I could have ever asked for. 

The freshmen on our team are absolutely adorable and amazing. They are going to do so well and they are the best freshmen class that has come into the program. 

I am excited to see what they do. 

-Kersten xo. 

Back to the Grind

Well day three back to classes and back to the grind and I am falling asleep in class! Don't get me wrong I am loving my class but trying to fit everything in my schedule is insane. 

Tuesday I honestly left my house at 630 a.m. and didn't get home until around 11p.m.  Busy busy busy! I love every minute if it though, just exhausted. 

Practices have been going extremely well. I got my full 3meter list off and changed my 1meter list around to start strong and end strong. 

I love my new teammates and can't wait to see what this season has to hold. I'll try and write more as I downloaded this awesome app I can type on the go :) 

Tonight it's the first football game of the season against USU. I am so excited! 

Go Utes! 

-Kersten xo.

Well summer 2013 it was fun

Today was the last day of summer and tomorrow I will be starting my senior year of diving at the U. I can't believe how fast this summer has done, well how fast all of my time at the U has gone. I have been so blessed to be at such an amazing school with amazing teammates and friends. I am looking forward to turning the page in my book of life. 

Wish me luck and as always: Go Utes 

Utah men's and women's swim and dive team 2013-2014

-Kersten xo

CANADA

Sorry I didn't get a chance to post anything the past few days I was enjoying being at home with my friends and family.

Did you know you really get to know someone when you spend over 32 hours in a car with them? Try it you will be surprised. You can either really end up hating them or end up wanting to spend another 32 hours in a car with them.

Being so far away from home being a D1 athlete I really forget the simple things of home, such as a Tim Hortons coffee or how Alberta you see nothing but sky. If you have lived in Utah all of your life go somewhere without the mountains so you can experience what it is like to have a full sky, not a half sky. You realize how important your friends really are; you learn who your true friends are. Being away for so long not many people will stick around, but they ones who do are your true friends.

Edmonton is home for me. It is truly beautiful and peaceful. As soon as I crossed the border into Canada I felt as ease. It's so simple, nothing else matters. Going home is just that little piece of heaven you get to enjoy once in a while.

Life slows down when you're at home. No practices, no classes, no worries. Simple and easy.

-Kersten xo.

Family: distance is just a number

Sometimes you just need a little getaway from reality, a little vacation. Tomorrow I am off to Canada to pick up my little brother and bring him back to Salt Lake City for a week. The three Merry siblings will be together for a little bit. It's tough being away from family. 

My youngest brother is 14 and lives in Ontario, Canada with my parents. My Dad is in the military and was posted over to Ontario from Alberta, where I spent most of my life. My middle brother Mitchell is 18; he plays hockey. He moved to Manitoba to play hockey this past year and then moved back to Alberta to graduate with his friends. It's crazy how we aren't able to all be together for holidays and big occasions. Last Christmas I spent it at work, Mitchell spent it with the family he lives with during hockey season and Andrew spent it with my parents. 

Although we all cant be together through the important things we make it work. We talk all the time, Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, Imessage. We are a really close family, but sometimes it is hard not being able to walk downstairs and have a conversation. It is also hard not being able to share not the hard times but the success! Sharing all the good things with the people you love is the best feeling in the world. I love the emails and messages but getting that hug after accomplishing something is amazing.

I love my family even if we are all over the map. That again is life as a D1 athlete. 

-Kersten xo.