Senior Connor Howard is ready to end his career at UIC with a bang! This Kinesiology major tries not to take life to serious, but always lives life to its fullest potential. Connor’s athletic childhood lead him towards diving and UIC!
HC (Her Campus): What piqued your interest in sports or diving specifically? Did you dive as a child or in high school?
CH (Connor Howard): Uh, I guess I was just an active and energetic kid. I tried tee-ball when I was 4 or 5, but I didn’t really stick to it. My brother bought a trampoline with his communion money when I was in kindergarten and that’s when I really started getting into doing flips and stuff. Then in 4th grade, I started gymnastics. I stuck with that until 7th grade, I think. My mom mentioned my high school didn’t have a gymnastics team, so she suggested diving and asked if I wanted to sign up for a week long diving camp over the summer. I tried it and liked it, so I started actually diving when I got to high school. I turned out too big to be a gymnast anyway.
HC: Did you always know you were going to be on the team at UIC?
CH: No, not at all. I started diving without knowing anything about the sport. After finishing my freshman season, I guess I showed some potential. Got a bit more serious about it my sophomore year and I qualified for the state meet. Then I kind of realized that this could lead to some real big opportunities for me. Junior year started the recruiting process for college. I had gotten a letter from UIC and I knew some people friends of mine who went to school here. A former high school teammate went on to swim here actually. So I went on my recruiting trip, liked the school, and I was eventually offered a scholarship. I consider myself extremely fortunate, honestly. Diving here has been an amazing. I think I’m super lucky to have been offered this opportunity.
HC: What is your favorite part of being on the team and what is your least favorite part?
CH: Favorite part? That’s a tough question. The conference meet is pretty rad. You’re competing against all the other teams in the conference, everyone is super stoked to be there, I get to watch all my teammates throw up crazy fast times in their races and swim out of their minds. It’s a very unique and intense environment. I guess you could say that my favorite part of being on the team is seeing all my teammates hard work and dedication culminate in a 3 day long meet at the end of every year. You really get caught up in the atmosphere of it all. I always cheer so loud that I lose my voice after the first day of competition. Every. Single. Year. It’s become a huge joke.
Least favorite part is that it is extremely stressful. It really isn’t all fun and games. I put a ton of pressure on myself to maintain a very particular standard of performance. Way too much at times. I don’t want to settle for anything less than what I consider my best. And it’s hard to settle for less than that.
HC: Can you describe one of your favorite meets or event that has stuck with you throughout your diving career?
CH: Ah, that’s another tough question. Probably my sophomore year conference meet at UIC. It was rad that we got to host conference. Our whole team was comfortable in our own pool, on our own boards. I performed my best ever at that meet, too. All the celebrating that happened after that meet was totally hilarious and memorable, as well. That same year we took a training trip to Hawaii over winter break. That’s something I would have never been able to do if it wasn’t for diving. Hawaii was totally rad.
HC: Do you have any advice for any athletes out there?
CH: Make sure you love what you’re doing. If you find yourself not loving it, remember why you loved it in the first place. Do your best to enjoy what you’re doing.
HC: Do you have any role models or anyone who inspires you? If so, who?
CH: Well, my dad. That’s a totally cliché answer I guess, but I really respect and look up to him. If I’m half the dad he was for me, I’d be happy. My mom, too. She opened her own salon after working out of her house and I’m really proud of all the hard work she puts into her job and her salon and our family. They both taught me a lot about respect and kindness and humility. I value all of those traits. Bruce Lee is cool, too.
HC: Do you have any personal and/or professional goals to accomplish before you graduate?
CH: I really want to finish this season of diving without leaving anything behind. I think potential is the worst thing to waste. Trying to get a little bit of an internship type of thing lined up for next semester, too.
HC: Are you involved in any other activities at UIC or outside of UIC? If not, what are some things you like to do in your spare time?
CH: Nah, diving is enough of a commitment for me. I like lifting weights. After this season is up, I’ll finally be able to get as big as I possibly can without worrying about being too heavy to dive.
HC: Where do you see yourself in ten years?
CH: Jesus, I don’t know. Hopefully still fit and healthy, doing something I enjoy doing, and loving my life. I just want to lead a happy life, really.
HC: If you could be best friends with any celebrity, who would it be and why?
CH: Probably Juicy J. What can I say? The dude knows how to party.
HC: Ending thoughts?
CH: Don’t take yourself too seriously, I guess. There are things to be serious about, of course, but I don’t think it’s good to be totally rigid all the time. Remember to enjoy the little things in life. Just be nice to people.
“I think everybody should like everybody”-Andy Warhol.
^ quote to live by.