Unlike most students her age, Essex High School junior Abigail Jackman, is already deep into the recruitment process for some of the top schools in the nation. While the majority of high school students don’t apply to colleges until their senior year, Jackman is getting a head start, and it’s for a good reason. 

Universities are allowed to start recruiting possible student athletes as soon as the summer before their junior year. For Jackman, this summer came with many emails and calls from possible contenders. 

“I first got into contact with coaches from filling out questionnaires from schools I’m interested in, and [then] they noticed me at swim meets,” Jackman said. “I’ve been working on my time management, but overall, it’s a very stressful experience, but it’s going to be rewarding in the end.”

Jackman has been a swimmer since elementary school, and currently swims with the Edge Swim Club, located in South Burlington. 

“I started swimming competitively about eight years ago,” Jackman said. “I fell in love with the water and feeling free, but also challenging myself in the pool making me feel complete.”

Jackman holds many achievements, including ranked number one in class of 2027 for Vermont, top ten in the New England, along with various Edge Swim Club records. Jackman has attended many national level swim meets including TYR Futures Championships in North Carolina, Speedo Sectionals around the East coast, as well as Senior Championships at Brown University. 

As one can imagine, Jackman holds a busy schedule balancing school, swim, and recruiting.

“My planner is my best friend,” Jackman said. “Getting all the help I can in academics and all the resources I can with swimming.”

Although Jackman has many notable achievements, she still carries goals that keep her motivated to keep pushing forward.

“I think about my long term goals and my short term goals, and that will motivate me to push myself to my limits, and thinking about my younger self and making her proud.”