SydneySchulze

Three meters is about the height of a male African Bush Elephant, the largest land animal in the world, but for sophomore Leila Steinhoff, it is no big deal; she dives the height every day.

She is involved in four different events. “I do one meter, three meter, platform and synchro,” Steinhoff said.

Going into her second year on the diving team, Steinhoff has had to learn how to adapt to the busy schedule. “We have practice every single day during the week from about 6:30-8:30 p.m. Then we have weights in the morning on Mondays and Wednesdays and Saturday practice.”

Even with many hours of practice on the Marian team, Steinhoff still can’t get enough. She also dives for a club team and recently competed internationally. “It was a really cool experience. I got to meet a lot of divers from Sweden, Norway and Finland,” Steinhoff said. 

With a lot of time dedicated to diving, she has had to learn to squeeze in time for her friends, family, school and clubs. “I try to do all of my school work while I’m in school. That way I have extra time before and after practice to hang out with my friends or do other activities,” Steinhoff said.

Even though it can be a lot, Steinhoff said she still believes that balance is key: “Make sure you maintain a positive attitude and that you are doing other things that make you happy.”

Steinhoff’s approach to balance is something other Marian swimmers have also had to master while pursuing passions outside of the pool.

That same sense of balance defines senior Bridget Finnegan; the pool isn’t the only place where she finds rhythm. She spends hours rehearsing with Marian’s show choir, trading races for performances. “In show choir, I get to perform and show a part of myself I don’t normally get to show.”

Balancing two demanding commitments didn’t happen overnight. Years of experience have helped Finnegan settle into a routine that keeps her moving from morning to night. 

“I go to show choir, go to school, then go to practice after school, then go home and go to bed so I get a good sleep before a show choir competition the next day,” Finnegan said. While the days can be long, she sees the two activities as working together rather than competing for her time. 

“Swimming helps me be able to perform full energy through a whole show choir set, and show choir helps me turn on the energy for a race.”

Finnegan encourages other students to pursue their passions, even when it means a packed schedule. “Go for it! Just make sure you communicate and don’t overload yourself,” Finnegan said.

Looking back on her four years, she hopes her time in both spaces leaves a lasting impression. “I hope people remember me as someone who can be dedicated to lots of things and do them well. I’m proud of being a part of both teams for four years because I think it helped me get a lot out of my Marian experience!”