Last May, I decided to swim a mile without stopping. I knew I would need to be able to do it to join the Coast Guard, so I spent every morning practicing with my father.

I thought of giving up many times. "I could be sleeping right now," I would cry out as my muscles ached.

One morning, I started to doubt myself, so I imagined swimming to a person in need. Before I knew it, I could hear my dad clapping. I had done it!