For better or worse most students are forced to become best friends with the “all-nighter” during their four-year college stint. Whether they were out too late at the Malibu Inn on a Tuesday night or cooped up in a corner of the library during finals week freshmen and seniors alike have experienced the effects of restless nights.
While many could avoid the caffeine cravings and baggy eyes if with better time management there are those who literally know what it is like to do it all.
Senior Michelle Fadley is a student swimmer wife and mother. At just 23 years old she has learned to champion responsibility and make the most of every minute.Her days are calculated and a daily routine helps keep the tasks in order.
On a normal day Fadley wakes up at 6 a.m. She leaves for her morning workout which lasts between 6:30 and 7:30 a.m. but she is not always alone. Three-year-old daughter Keira often accompanies her to the pool already showing a passion for her mother’s sport at a young age.
“She comes and sits in a stroller on the pool deck and plays games and has snacks Fadley said.
Fadley then races off to class, which she has between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. two days a week and 10 a.m. to 3 a.m. another two days a week.
She balances 20 units so she can graduate May 2, looking forward to soon accomplishing one of her many goals.
I know I have to complete and do well on these units so I haven’t quite seen the final light but I’m almost there she said. I know the last couple weeks will be exciting and right now I’m just trying to crank through.”
Fadley’s nights end with Keira and husband Joshua Fadley by her side where Joshua said they always try to be. He said they especially enjoy going to her swim meets watching her in one of her favorite places – the pool.
“We do it so that we can be supportive of her because if we didn’t I don’t think she would enjoy it as much he said.Joshua said he and Keira enjoy sharing in Michelle’s passion, which she has held since she was 2 1/2 years old.
Michelle’s parents were coaches when she was growing up, so Michelle formed a love for swimming at an early age.
I’ve always been surrounded by the pool she said.
She knew when she was 10 years old she wanted to swim in college, and in high school she made doing so her mission. She has been swimming competitively for 18 years, racing the 100 butterfly, 200 butterfly and Individual Medley.
It’s been a long journey but since having [Keira] I’m still improving my times which has kept it fun and exciting Michelle said. And I really love the girls on the team. They really make it fun. That’s kind of my outlet from school and stuff – I have the pool to work out and have time to myself and to be with them.”
Michelle joined the swim team as a freshman in fall 2003. It was then she also met future husband Joshua. The two were in classes together and became best friends through an instant connection. A year later an unexpected surprise landed on them and Michelle became pregnant. Keira was born on Jan. 232006 Michelle’s 20th birthday. Joshua and Michelle welcomed this next step in their lives.
“When it first happened for a lot of people it was like ‘Oh you guys are really young how are you guys going to deal with it?'” Joshua recalled. “It was never like that for her or for me … I mean everyone ends up building a family. We just did it younger.”
Michelle took a year and a half off of school leaving classes and her team behind.
However she left knowing that she would soon return.
“I thought it was impossible but she proved me wrong said Head Coach Nick Rodionoff, who has been Michelle’s coach for the past five years. I mean she just does it without complaining without fussing. To me she’s like the woman of the year.”
Rodionoff said it took about three to four months for Michelle to get back into training when she returned but he said she made a natural transition because she never lets herself get out of shape.
Michelle also had to readjust to life at Pepperdine but she said she was glad to be back.
“It felt good coming to classes again and seeing all the old faces she said. Being on the swim team the first year I knew some of the girls so that helped get me back. I didn’t feel like a total outsider entering in again.”
Michelle also took online classes while she was away so she would not lose her work and study ethic.
Balancing everything from home to school Michelle said the responsibilities are demanding. However she said her and Joshua find strength in one another to persevere through the challenges.
“We’ve always had a busy schedule and we work well with it and we still find time to watch TV and sit on the couch and do whatever Michelle said. We’re not too busy where we’re just going nuts.”
And Joshua and Michelle have grown from being parents gaining the knowledge to know when to ask for advice from others and when to take that advice with a grain of salt.
“It’s all a learning process Michelle said. It’s kind of trial and error. You learn as you go and if something isn’t working you change it a little.”
Michelle swam her final home meet Saturday surrounded by friends families and teammates. She will compete in her final meet the PCSC Championships in two weeks. Though Michelle said this is the last time she will race competitively an event she believes will likely bring tears to her eyes she hopes to one day coach.
“It would be fun to be a coach here [at Pepperdine] she said. I know the coach so well and he’d be fun to work with. And then all the girls too.”
According to Rodionoff Michelle’s role as a mother has given her a maturity that is important in coaching. He said he is constantly impressed with how well she carries herself in the pool the classroom and at home.
“It’s just it’s one of those stories you’d like to document so you can say to people ‘Look here’s how you do it'” he said.