Ella Palacios may have graduated from Kalamazoo College recently, but the former member of the women's swimming and diving team isn't wasting any time in jumping right back into the world of academics.
"My study abroad was canceled in 2020 (due to the COVID-19 pandemic) and I was supposed to go to Bonn, Germany," said Palacios. "I am spending part of this summer in Germany to make up for it."
Making it to graduation is a challenge in the best of times -- much less during a worldwide pandemic --but the mathematics and German major credited her time in Kalamazoo with helping her deal.
"I think K taught me a lot about resilience, to expect what you least expect and take it with grace," Palacios said, continuing, "I think this is hugely helpful in preparing me for my next steps, which are currently looking like a year of internships and then graduate school."
Palacios, who swam freestyle and the IM at K, was selected to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll in both the 2020-21 and 2019-20 school years and was awarded the Henry and Inez Brown Prize in recognition of outstanding participation in the Kalamazoo College community in 2021.
"I did a Mathematics REU (Research Experience for Undergrads) at the University of Michigan (in the summer of 2021) researching string waveforms," said Palacios, adding, "I used that research to write my Senior Integrated Project for K. I specialized my SIP focus on the string waveforms of orchestral instruments, such as violin, viola, cello and bass."
Palacios, who prepped at Skyline H.S. (Ann Arbor, Mich.), didn't hesitate to extol the virtues of being a K student-athlete. She called her time on the swim team "one of the most profound experiences" she has had at Kalamazoo College.
"I learned a lot of resilience, but also grit, determination, leadership skills and to celebrate the little wins. As a two-year captain of the swim and dive team, I learned so much about taking what I could have and advocation for more for myself and my team.
"There is only so much you can learn about yourself in the classroom setting. I knew I was driven, liked math and was meticulous, but I learned so much more about myself as a leader and person while on the team and I think that's an experience I'm going to walk away from feeling extremely happy with myself."
Palacios wanted to give special recognition to her swimming and diving head coach Jay Daniels, as well as professors Kathryn Sederberg (German department) and Eric Barth (math).
"I'd like to thank them for everything they've taught me in and outside of the classroom, as well as the support throughout the past four years. I wouldn't be the human I am without these people and I cannot thank them enough for everything."
When asked about what advice she would give someone interested in competing athletically at Kalamazoo College, Palacios pointed to the support system that's in place to help K student-athletes.
"K Athletics is a family and you will have this incredible support system for the next four years. I think that benefitted me hugely, especially during the lockdown times. These people will push you in and out of the pool – literally – to be the best person, athlete, student, friend or mentor that you can be.
"You're going to learn so much more than just your major… You'll hopefully learn or find the best version of yourself, and I think that is so much more important than a major or an 'A' in a class."