Senior Gracie Swanson balances a student-athlete lifestyle well, she takes high level classes and runs cross country in the fall. Swanson has managed this demanding schedule with a smile and a GPA above a 4.0.
“In school, I’m motivated to achieve high goals because I’m a perfectionist and I want to set myself up to be prepared to go to college and future career. That starts with trying hard in high school,” Swanson said.
Swanson moved to Penn High School her junior year. She has handled the transition gracefully. She loves all the friends and opportunities it has to offer. She says her teammates have been a tremendous help.
“I am motivated in running by the community and coaches and friends. I like striving to be in better shape,” Swanson said.
Swanson says it is not easy to wake up every morning and face the challenges of the day. She chooses to focus on the end goal and not the temporary discomfort. She says that a long distance run and school are not so different. They both have their challenges.
“Lots of times I don’t like running or staying up late to study, but I know the pay off will always be better,” Swanson said.
With cross country season coming to an end, Swanson is now focusing her efforts on college applications. She says she has a few colleges in mind, but she would love to attend the University of Notre Dame.
