Kate Dwelley: Keys to Success

Kate Dwelley was named to the 2007-08 U.S. National Team after winning a bronze medal in the 200m free at the 2007 World University Games in Bangkok, Thailand. Here are the keys to her success:

Be happy. You have to be happy. When I’m happy, I use nervousness as excitement, which puts me in a better place. I have fun with swimming. I just swim better when I am happy. I took a class on sports psychology, and they said people who are happy are more likely to go out of their comfort zone and reach new goals.

Trust your coaches. Sometimes, you think, “I know everything about swimming,” but the truth is, your coaches know a lot more than you do. You have to trust that they know what is best for you. So give them your feedback, but know they have been working hard on a plan and have been putting a lot of thought into your program, so follow that.

Challenge yourself. Each time you try, even if you fail, you will learn a lot about yourself. Because the next time you come up against that barrier, you will know how to deal with it, how to move beyond it, and be ready for the next challenge.

Don’t rest on your laurels. You have to be looking for what that next step will be after you reach your goal. You have to achieve your accomplishment and then work toward the next step. That next step will be harder, but you want it to be so you can continue to gain new experiences.

Let the people who care about you help move you forward. You can’t do everything on your own, so make the most of your resources. But remember it’s a give and take, so don’t forget to give back to the people who are giving so much to you. Take time to help them with their own goals.