Personal Statement

I've been drawn to the water for as long as I can recall. What began in my backyard pool became a love for swimming anywhere. If there’s water, I’m in it.  Youth training in swimming and gymnastics provided a strong athletic starting point for me.  I look back now and see that I always thrived in competitive situations. Qualifying for our county swim championships for the 50 breaststroke as a 10-year-old, I found myself standing behind the blocks before the race. With my parents eagerly watching, at that moment, I was utterly mesmerized by the divers twisting and flipping on boards of all heights at the other end of the massive aquatic center. This was a complete eureka moment for me, kismet really, my love of gymnastics and swimming merging together. I had a diving board at home, but this was different, magical.  It was truly a moment of insight and inspiration that changed the direction of my life.  After that race, in which I did well, I begged my mom to talk to the diving coach, and ever since that day, I have never lost that love for diving. 

This sport has brought wonderful friends into my life, and it has taught me lessons in resilience and determination.  Diving has allowed me to travel for training and competition, providing valuable life lessons in the process.  Gaining skill and knowledge in anything doesn’t come without working through challenges, and diving makes that lesson very clear. No one gets better or gets new dives without taking the bumps and smacks and flops that are part of learning. Stepping out of my comfort zone, while facing and managing the fear of failure and the unknown, has proven to be the most valuable of lessons, extending beyond the diving pool. 

My love of the water has also given me the opportunity to complete my pool lifeguard certification and spend summers on Long Island’s most beautiful beaches as an Ocean Lifeguard in Training. Volunteering as a swim instructor locally and working as a camp counselor in the summers give me opportunities  to share my love of the water with young kids in our community.  

Academically, I am interested in health sciences.  My dream is to become a pediatrician. I am on track to earn a diploma with high honors, maintain a 4.0 GPA, and complete at least 10 AP classes at the culmination of my HS career. I have been a three season varsity athlete since grade 8, making it to postseason competition each season. After fall Varsity Diving, I compete as part of the Varsity Winter Track and Spring Track teams as a distance runner and pole vaulter, currently ranking #5 in Suffolk County as a sophomore vaulter.  While my schedule is busy year round, I wouldn’t have it any other way.  I enjoy the training, the challenges, and especially the competition. Heading into my junior year, I look forward to stepping into a bigger leadership role on my varsity and club teams by working hard in training, adding new and more difficult dives, and excelling at my challenging academic course load. It sure sounds like a lot on paper, but these are the steps that will help me achieve my goals of succeeding athletically and academically in college and then further on in medical school. 

I look forward to diving in college with an eagerness to refine my skills and become a better competitor.  I want to grow as an athlete who is a part of a competitive team with like-minded teammates. I am open to the challenges and rewards that I know will come with being a collegiate athlete.  Volunteering my time is a priority, and I hope to be able to give back to youth swim/dive and lifeguarding programs during my college years. I intend to work very hard in college, foster new lifelong friendships, and leave a positive mark on my team as well as a positive legacy at the school.  My college journey is sure to include times of success as well as struggle, but I know that I have the resilience needed to continue toward my goals. My sport has also been my teacher of sorts, teaching me about myself and showing me how to persevere and how to be fully committed. I have never lost my love for diving; this is very true. I now have abundant gratitude for what diving has given me so far, and I am very excited to see what is still to come. 

Lara Booth Alam

Connetquot HS, Bohemia NY

Class of 2024

Email: laradyana09@icloud.com

Instagram: laraboothalam.diving2024

NCSA Profile: https://recruit-match.ncsasports.org/clientrms/

Youtube: Laraboothalam.diving2024