When Iyana Chong returns home, she’s going to be a completely different person.
That’s what spending four years with the Little Flower High School swimming team will do for you.
Chong is a senior at Little Flower and she came to the United States shortly before high school so she could attend school in Philadelphia.
She moved in with her cousin and started school at a place where she knew nobody. And because of that, she was quiet and reserved.
Then she decided to join the swim team with coach Sean Clothier, and after some warming up, she’s a completely different person.
“I remember walking to the school and seeing all the faces,” Chong said. “I was so shy at the time. My whole freshman year was like that. My coach always says my first year at school and on the swim team, I didn’t say a single word. I’m glad I came out of my shell.
“One of the hardest things to do was the language barrier I think. I knew English, I understood it, but I was so scared to talk. I feel like I was scared I would mess up or people wouldn’t understand me. I realize that these girls are so nice, they don’t make fun of people because English isn’t their first language. It helped me a lot that we have a small team, we are all so close. We have a bond between everyone. Even my freshman year when I wasn’t talking to them, they would take care of me and talk to me. The seniors were so nice, all the upperclassmen were nice. It really helped me.”
Now, as Chong likes to joke, they can’t shut her up.
And that only makes Little Flower a better place because Chong is right where she wants to be around people she loves.
“I’m so glad I joined the swim team. It was the best decision I made. That decision has changed my four years of high school. The pool has always been my safe place, my freshman year was tough. I didn’t have people to talk to, I was struggling a lot. I was at the lowest point. I missed my family, I missed talking to my friends and I didn’t have friends here at that time to be there to support me. I was really struggling that year.
“Then I joined the swim team, I became friends with all the girls. Even though we weren’t really close right away, we were always there to support each other. That’s something I’m really proud of my team about. We are always there for each other.”
Chong came a long way as a person.
She came nearly as far as a swimmer.
Though she swam her entire life, Chong was still learning the ropes when she arrived at Little Flower.
She made a big splash this year when she made the All-Catholic team. It’s a huge accomplishment for someone who just wanted to compete as a way of making friends at her new school.
“I didn’t expect to make All-Catholic, I didn’t think it would happen,” she said with a laugh. “I’m tiny, I’m 5 feet. I never thought I would stand out in the league with so many great swimmers. I’m really glad. During swimming, I created a lot of good memories and I always enjoy it. It’s one thing I look for during my four years of high school, I just wanted to count days until swim practice.
“Swimming here has changed everything. I couldn’t wait for Sean’s email. He’s a great coach. He is really great. He’s the best coach I ever had. He does care so much and he’s so supportive and everything. Not just swimming. Outside of school, too, he cares. He always makes sure we are OK and have everything we need.”
Chong said she’ll always remain friends with her coach, and she’ll miss him when she leaves Little Flower. But she has big plans beyond high school.
Next year she’ll attend St. Joseph’s University.
“They have a really good pharmacy program, which is a 2 plus 4 program, so you can get a degree in six years,” Chong said. “I always wanted to work in healthcare. When I started looking sophomore year, I was thinking of nursing, but I don’t think it’s for me. Patient care and all that. One of the girls who graduated from Little Flower told me all about the pharmacy program. I love chemistry. I think it’s really cool to learn about drugs and how they react with your body.
“I’m 8,000 miles away, so you might not think I’d want to, but I want to stay close to home, where I have family and friends. And I know a lot of people going to St. Joe’s. It’s perfect for me.”
When she gets there, she’ll be a completely different person who walked into Little Flower four years ago.
“Before I never talked, now they joke I don’t stop talking,” Chong said. “Little Flower helped me so much. The swim team got me out of my shell. It was the whole sisterhood thing. It really changed me.”
