A Letter to My Younger Self
Jacob,
Before beginning Beast, you wrote to your future self, about what you had hoped to accomplish, what you were nervous about, and what you were excited for at West Point; I hope to answer a few of your questions and ease any doubts you may have. One thing is for sure though, it’s funny how much can change in a relatively short period of time, especially when you’re stepping into the unknown.
It was by chance that you ended up here, a simple conversation between a friend that had led you down a path that would forever change your life. After showing no interest in being recruited to West Point to swim, you decided to take that call and you were hooked afterwards. It took weeks to convince your parents that this is what you wanted, and you fought hard to change their minds. You fell more in love with West Point the more you talked about it, and you dreamed about when you would finally get to compete. In your letter you wrote, “I hope to have Olympic Trials by the time I graduate” and while it breaks my heart to tell you that dream never came true, you walk away with so much more.
Your swimming career isn’t at all what you had been imagining; it isn’t full of conference titles, team records, or Olympic Trails. You struggle with finding the confidence to race how you used to and personal bests are few and far between. It’s in this struggle, however, that you find what swimming at West Point is really about. Your entire life you have treated swimming as an individual sport, and you finally learn what it is to be apart of a team.
You witness a level of dedication and commitment that inspires you to continue pushing, even when you feel like quitting. You learn about the heroes before you who laid the foundation for everything you represent.
Most importantly, you meet your teammates. For four years they serve as your rock through the most difficult times you’ve ever experienced, dealing with the loss of family, self-doubt, insecurities, and so much more. As a result, you learn that it’s okay to lean on others when you’re struggling and that it’s okay to ask for help. Through your newfound family, you’re able to overcome every obstacle in front of you and keep moving forward.
It’s through your dedication and commitment to the team that you learn how to become a leader. In your Firstie year, you end up having the incredible privilege to be the team captain. It’s during this season that you finally snap the 32-year losing streak to Navy. Better yet, you get to anchor the record-setting 400 freestyle relay that officially wins the meet. In an instant all the hard practices, the frustration, and the doubt that you had disappeared. All the countless hours of work are worth it, and you’ll cherish those memories more than anything.
It is in that moment that you feel truly satisfied, not because of the win or the relay but because you witnessed your new family accomplish something truly special- and that is worth more than any individual win.
To my past self, I’ll leave you with this.
Cherish every second you have with those you love around you because before you know it, your time with them is up.
Make every effort to go out with your friends and make memories for the rest of your life. Be kind and smile, you’ll be surprised how far that can take you. Trust yourself and never settle. You said that “I hope to grow as a leader and not change who I am” and I can say without a doubt that is absolutely what you do.
Love,
Jacob Powell, West Point Class of 2023