Jessie Kusuma
Some Facts:
Name: Jessica Kusuma
Nick Name: Jessie
FISH Group: I coach the Mini FISH.
Home Town: Annandale, VA
Summer League Team: The Annandale Red Tide
High School: I'm Homeschooled!
Future College: The School of the Arts at Virginia
Commonwealth University in Richmond.
When did you join
the FISH, and what has been your most memorable experience while being on the
team?
What was your most rewarding and exciting meet during your FISH career?I started out with the FISH in the December of 2008 when I was 16. The Boys vs. Girls meets and the Easter Egg Hunt practices have been my favorite part of the FISH in the past.
What is your favorite set?Definitely the Boys vs. Girls meets. It was great to see all the new Minis swim for the first time in an event, and it's rewarding to see how much they've improved at the spring meet.
I enjoy swimming alternating IM "Oreos" (75s with a 25 of a different stroke sandwiched in between two 25s of the same stroke: Fly-Back-Fly, Back-Breast-Back, Breast-Free-Breast, etc..)
What are your
favorite events?
The 50 backstroke and the 200 medley relay.
What is the biggest
challenge for you in swimming?
The biggest challenge for me is keeping my energy level even with how much I actually want to swim. Sometimes I just want to swim and swim and swim, but my body can't keep up.
What motivates you
most?
Competition. Even though I am driven by the opportunity to become a stronger person overall, I am always motivated to compete against faster fellow swimmers and I make it my goal to at least keep up with them.
Which aspects of
swimming do you apply in everyday life?
Perseverance. Sticking to the course even when I feel like "skipping a set" or cutting corners.
You are beginning a
new chapter in your life, college. What are you most looking forward to? How
has FISH prepared you?
I am looking forward to trying Lots of new things at college and meeting tons of new friends. Coaching with the FISH has specifically helped me in learning tricks to remember new names of people I meet; I have to learn to recognize 50+ new swimmers ever season.
What advice can you
give your teammates in your group and especially your younger teammates who are
just starting out?
Don't skip practices and be on time. Everything will go better with you automatically. Your coaches will appreciate your punctuality, you'll bond more with your teammates, you won't get out of shape, and you'll get so much more out of every practice.
Tell us a little bit about you; what do you like to do when you are not
swimming or busy with schoolwork?
In my spare time, I immensely enjoy sewing and drawing at home. I also like going out to the movies, attending swing dances, and participating in theatrical productions. I've wanted to be a children's book illustrator since I was twelve years old and will continue to work towards that goal through my major in communication arts. I also aspire to be in a flash mob, ride a motorcycle, and skydive. Simultaneously. JK.
