The college recruiting landscape has changed since I committed to Penn in the summer of 2017. NIL rules, NCAA bylaws, and always-evolving recruiting practices can make it hard for high schoolers to navigate the college recruiting process. With the added pressure of grueling athletics schedules and rigorous coursework, high school student-athletes often miss out on integral parts of their teenage years.

I graduated from high school in 2018. I boasted 5s across my AP coursework, an excellent SAT score, and an impressive swimming resume. Unfortunately, I spent so much time focused on maximizing my results in and out of the pool that, upon graduating, I felt I had missed out on a fulfilling high school experience.

The college athletic landscape changed drastically during and after my undergraduate years at Penn. New Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rules transformed the NCAA's long-standing commitment to amateurism. The Power 5 conferences melted into the Power 4, with the Pac-12 disappearing almost entirely. The transfer portal was introduced and allowed student-athletes more freedom of movement between schools and conferences.

Recruiting timelines and rules were streamlined across all sports, pushing student-athletes in early high school to start contacting coaches to avoid falling behind their peers. The Ivy League aligned its recruiting and commitment practices with those of the (former) Power 5 Conferences, making it easier for recruits interested in Ivy League athletics to keep track of rules and timelines.

The constantly-changing regulatory and culture landscape of the NCAA places undue stress on high school student-athletes dreaming of a collegiate athletic career. I feel strongly that high schoolers currently spend too much of their limited time and energy on college recruiting rather than on maximizing their high school experience, which will, in turn, benefit their results in athletics and academics.

I strive to help relieve some of the recruiting and application pressures on high school student-athletes so they can focus on what matters: being at their best in school, athletics, and personally.