The swimming unit. A good group of you probably just groaned. The word carries a lot of weight—granted it’s water weight, but still—around the school. It’s able to completely destroy people’s moods and I’m one of them.

Among the many problems with swimming are the locker rooms. I can only assume these are awkward for everyone. You have to wrap a towel around yourself for even a semblance of privacy.

There aren’t any PA speakers inside, so you can’t hear the announcements if you have it second period, like I do. It makes it really awkward when you feel obligated to say the Pledge of Allegiance, and the closest thing to an American Flag in there is your neighbor’s stars and stripes swim trunks.

The school actually has heaters in the pool, but I haven’t felt them. The water can feel ice cold, and we’re never allowed to ease in. Some people will just stand by the water’s edge, scared of the water.

That’s why most people hate this unit in gym, but there are some upsides.

The diving boards can be fun and give some extra air.

In every class there’s always the kids trying to flip, and no matter what happens to them it’s great. Either you get to see a kid pull off a triple flip or you get to see a belly flop, and who can’t laugh at that noise?

And there’s always the games; tombstone is my personal favorite. You get to chuck balls across the pool, throw people into water and because it’s in the shallow end, you don’t even have to swim. Everybody always cheers when they see the graveyard.

There’s also water rugby and sponge ball. Some will argue that I shouldn’t group these together, but those people are playing one or the other wrong. They both just dissolve into a giant huddle of bodies all clinging on to a ball.

And water polo. I’m not going to talk about water polo. I was taught to either say something nice or not talk at all.

As much as you hate or love the swimming unit, we do need it. It’s a grade and a needed skill. It’s better to end now—I’m afraid of drowning my point here.