Augie Meier, Swimming

I feel like my time at Willamette is perfectly explained by my first visit. While exploring the colleges, I didn't know anyone at the schools I was interested in, but I was mainly looking for a place where I would feel at home. When I visited Willamette, I had the opportunity to meet the swim team and their coaches, which gave me a real sense of what life there might be like. I loved seeing how the swimmers spend so much time together—practicing, traveling, and sharing meals at the dining hall, where they naturally sit at the same table. It was all very genuine, full of camaraderie. They chatted about their classes and how they support each other both in and outside the pool. Being around them made me feel like I would fit in, make connections, and grow. That was when I realized that Willamette was the right choice for me.