Experiences W13

In regards to my most significant experience while researching my subculture, I must first say that I started my research prior to this assignment. Being involved within the subculture has allowed me to observe it for many years leading up to this assignment.
This is a quick story but one that show the closeness of the subculture. I swam and dove throughout my high school career and had great success while doing so. I was know around the entire community for my abilities within the sport. I set records that had never before been seen and have yet to be defeated. After putting my heart and soul into the sport as well as the program for so many years, my final home competition laid before my. Senior night had finally arrived the night I never wanted to see. I had be upset about it for weeks ahead of time knowing that this would be the last time I would compete at my home pool. A pool that I had made mine. First competition there were 2 fans in the audience, by my senior night there wasn't a vacant seat and I took great pride in allowing that transformation to take place. I wanted to go out with a bang. I didn't want to just run through the same boring routine the people had seen time and time before. I wanted to do something memorable. I decided that for my last dive I was going to do a can-opener (a dive that makes an enormous splash and is illegal in competition). I had no opponent that night so my undefeated streak couldn't be taken away. I knew the official personally and was assure that I wouldn't be disqualified considering the circumstances. I did my first 5 of 6 dives and then before my final dive I stood at the end of the board I had leaped from so many times and talked directly to the crowd and my team. I thanked them for the years of support and mentioned several individuals that I owed a lot to. Trying to hold back a pool of tears I thanked my two best friends as well as made some comments about the future of the program and prepared for my final dive ever. I said that I wanted to go out with a bang but didn't tell the crowd anything more than that. The official dive was announced, I took my starting position, looked up at the crowd I had drawn and smiled, then started my approach left the board for the last time and then made the biggest and most unexpected splash. Underwater I could hear the crowd go wild. I came out of the water and was amazed that I, one person, could draw such a response. The judged gave me straight tens, a perfect score, out of respect. I got out of the water only to see my team in tears and I joined them in on last celebration. It was the talk of the town for several days following.
It is a testament to not only my dedication but also the closeness of the community to understand what I was doing and except it as a statement of my thanks to them. For the judges to throw a perfect score out of respect for the work I had done to overhaul the program. The team I had lead for 4 years to share to bittersweet feeling I had held within me and to understand how much they and the sport meant to me. All of this show the incredible closeness that lies within the community. Some say blood is thicker than water; not in the case of this community.