Support Dartmouth College Aquatics Programs - Swimming and Diving and Water Polo

If you knew my sister, I am sure you would notice the same thing that everyone else notices about her - "What a great smile." She was voted "Best Smile" in our high school year book. When we moved from Cincinnati to Virginia Beach, our swim coach gave her a tooth brush and tooth paste as a gift, with a note that said, "keep that smile bright." I can't think of anyone I would rather be with at the movies; her contagious giggle gets the entire audience laughing EVERY time.

On Monday, November 25th, she stopped smiling. My parents and I met her at the airport, and I have never seen my sister look that sad, not since my grandfather died. I watched her try to be optimistic, while she studied for exams and worked on a twenty page, single spaced paper that was due the Wednesday she returned. I knew she was doing her best to concentrate on her work, but I also knew that her heart was broken. I knew because I watched my sister swim competitively since she was eight years old. I knew because when she was in high school, she would wake up at 3:50 AM to drive 25 miles to swim practice, and return before I even got out of bed. I knew because after school, she would drive that same 25 miles back to practice, and when I returned home from my sports practices at 6:00 PM, my sister still had 2 more hours to go before she would be home. And then we would eat dinner together - my mother always insisted that we had dinner together. Then she would finally start her homework, and would be up until 11:30 PM. And then it started all over again with the 3:50 AM alarm.

Well, I guess what I am trying to say is that I feel really angry because you hurt my sister. I feel angry because I know what it takes to be a competitive swimmer. I swam for six years, and still swim for my high school team, but that is nothing compared to what my sister has done. I'm angry because I know that my sister is giving Dartmouth the very best she has to offer. I'm angry because she was really sick at the Ivy Champs last year, but she didn't quit. I'm angry because when she returned to Dartmouth from Ivies, her throat hurt so badly, she couldn't swallow. I'm angry because two days later she was diagnosed with a severe case of Mono and she still didn't quit. Against medical advice, she stayed out of the infirmary and tried to study for finals. She couldn't remember anything she was studying, but she still took her exams and she didn't quit on Dartmouth.

You quit on my sister, and I am having a really hard time dealing with the anger that I feel. With all due respect, sir, I ask you to please reconsider your decision. My sister has NEVER quit on Dartmouth. Please don't quit on her.