I had been at the university more than 2 years before I finally had the courage to check out the gym. The “bros” intimidated me, and I was just too shy and anxious to try something “new” like that – as a bit of a nerd, I knew I’d be the awkward one not knowing what to do or how to act. But the day before Thanksgiving break, most of the campus had cleared out, I was done with most of my homework, and I finally decided I’d found my balls enough to go check the rec center out (well – not to be too proud of myself: the place was pretty empty).
While I wasn’t very good at it, I could swim somewhat decently, so I put on my swimming trunks, pulled some sweatpants over them, and walked over. As I expected, the entire gym was nearly empty, and the pool wasn’t even attended by a lifeguard. Seeing the locker room empty made me feel better – I could never understand how anyone was comfortable showering in those long rows of open shower heads. I tossed my sweats into a locker, walked out to the pool, and quickly realized the limits of my cardiovascular endurance after only a few laps left me winded. Well, either the laps or the excitement that I’d managed to break out of my shell a little and come over here.