The Women’s Swimming Big Ten Conference meet is coming up on February 18, so sophomore swimmer Julia Pratt has been spending even more hours training in the pool. Pratt maintains a positive attitude both in and out of the water, which helps her balance a busy life on campus.
Name: Julia Pratt
Year: Sophomore
Hometown: Vincennes, Indiana
Major: Communication Studies
Birthday: September 24, 1993
HC: How old were you when you started swimming? How did you first get involved?
Julia: I started swimming when I was 5. My mom was a swimmer at Northwestern and my dad played football here as well. They wanted to start me in sports as young as possible, so I chose swimming.
HC: When did you know you wanted to swim in college?
Julia: I actually wrote in a journal when I was about 6 or 7 years old and said, “I want to swim in college like my mommy.” It’s always been something I knew I was going to do and I just kept at it as I got older.
HC: What was your first meet like here at NU?
Julia: It was unbelievable. I went to a small high school and I was the only girl on the swim team. I never had competed in a relay before, so it was great being a part of such a wonderful group of girls.
HC: How do you manage to balance your schoolwork, swimming and being involved in other activities, like your sorority?
Julia: I barely manage to find balance (laughs). Finding time to sleep is the hardest part for me. With early morning practice, staying up late to study and do things with my sorority, it is pretty rough. I make it work though.
HC: How has training been going for conference?
Julia: It’s been going well. This year’s team is driven and talented. We have been training 20 hours a week since we got here in early September, so somewhere near 450-500 hours in total. We really want to feel prepared and ready.
HC: Do you have any specific goals for the Big Ten conference meets?
Julia: I am always looking to go for my best times and just keep improving.
HC: What is your favorite thing about swimming here at Northwestern?
Julia: At NU I have the best of every world. My coaches want me to strive in and out of the pool and they really push me to do well academically. Also, we’re the only Big Ten team sponsored by Under Armour, which is pretty awesome.
HC: Any advice for other students on how to juggle their time and activities?
Plan out your day and keep your priorities straight. Relax, take a few deep breaths and remember that life goes on.