Technique: When did you start diving?
Makinson: I was ten years old. It started off at a summer camp; I just liked being airborne.
Technique: What do you miss most about home?
Makinson: I don’t really miss Calgary that much—that’s where I’m from. I miss my parents, obviously. But most of my friends have moved away for school or jobs.
Technique: How do you balance diving and Aerospace Engineering?
Makinson: I slowly learned how to manage my time. It’s manageable, When I have homework, I just have to go to the library and do work, I can’t go and hang out with my friends. I’m never on Facebook; I just have to focus.
Technique: What made you pick AE and actually stick with it?
Makinson: Planes have always interested me. I don’t want to be a pilot. I thought about getting my pilot’s license, but the time just hasn’t really fit. I considered switching to ME after my second year, but I decided it would be as easy to get a job with AE as ME because they are so closely related. I figured since I started it, I might as well stick with it since it is still interesting.
Technique: What do you want to do with your major?
Makinson: That I do not know. I want to find a job that allows me to stay in the United States. Other than that, I really have no plans.
Technique: What made you pick Tech?
Makinson: I always knew I wanted to go into engineering, and that paired with the diving program here just really fit perfectly. It was really hard to find a strong athletic school and strong academic school all in one. Tech just really fit what I wanted.
Technique: Did you look at other schools?
Makinson: I looked at Notre Dame and Northwestern.
Technique: Do you have any goals for yourself or the team as the whole this season?
Makinson: I would really like to get to NCAA’s again. They’re going to be challenging this year based on the number of spots our zone got from last year. Other than that, it’s really hard to say I want a specific place because it’s a judged sport. It’s not like running where you can say you want to run a specific time. Other than that, I’m always trying to get better scores.
Technique: If you could change one rule in diving, what would it be?
Makinson: I don’t know. I don’t think I have ever been restricted by rules in diving before. The only thing that came to mind that I would change is the judging because sometimes it’s really bad, just like all judged sports. I’d like if there was a stricter, more consistent set of guidelines.
Technique: Who is your favorite athlete?
Makinson: I’m not a big sports watcher. I watch football because it can get exciting with my roommates. I would have to say Michael Phelps, because everyone was talking so much smack about him going into the Olympics and he still won six golds.
Technique: If you could get on a plane right now and go anywhere, where would you go?
Makinson: Italy. I went there once for a diving competition in northeastern Italy and then went to Rome for a few days to sightsee when I was 19.
Technique: How do you prepare in the off season?
Makinson: For me, I always need a break in the off season. I need a mental detox. After I get told the same thing so many times, its hard to make changes. Having a couple weeks off at the end of the season just kind of lets everything flow out and start fresh again so I can improve.
Technique: What kind of things do you and your teammates joke about?
Makinson: One of the weirder things we joke about is hitting the board. It sounds really strange, but if we have a lot to do or want to get out of practice, we will joke about hitting the board just to get out of practice.
Technique: If you heard practice was cancelled tomorrow, what would you do with your day off?
Makinson: Probably homework. I have a lot of finals and projects coming up. It’s stressful having our Invitational this weekend, so now I am going to have to really commit my time to studying.
Technique: Do you get any time off for break?
Makinson: About a week.