A day in the water with Will

Although a large part of my job is managing pools around Manhattan, training new instructors how to use our methodology to be the best they can be in the water with the wonderful kids we have the privilege of teaching and various other duties I have as a manager, when I am in the water with my students is when I am happiest.

No matter how bad of a day I might be having, no matter what is going on in my personal life, the bright smiles on the faces of the children in the water always, without fail, remind me of why I love my job, and the children I teach. Even on days when a few of them are very unhappy about being there, being able to help them through the lesson, and most of the time, cheer them up in the process, makes it all worthwhile. It reminds me that I am teaching a life skill, one that can save the life of a young child that someone loves and adores even more than we do. It reminds me that drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death in children under 14. It reminds me that I am a role model and set an example for the children. And it reminds me of why I love children so much.

So here is a happy, happy swim day in the water with me.

3:00 a one year old that, at one point, would scream for the entire half hour. That same little girl now smiles and laughs the whole time all the while learning skills that might save her life one day. I had a part in that and I’m very proud of her.

3:30 a student that loves swimming with me and improves by leaps and bounds every week is home sick. Too bad… I spend that half hour watching the other students in the pool, enjoying their smiles and laughter with our other great teachers, remembering what it was like to be a kid and play in the water with the students on the table.

4:00 this child is swimming for an hour today, due to a makeup. They are very tired and really don’t want to be there today. So I try, with success, to make the lesson more entertaining than usual and keep things light and fun while still maintaining the level of learning for which we are so respected. When that hour is over, she is having so much fun learning flip turns, she does not want to get out. But, alas, I have another lesson to teach.

5:00 this little boy was terrified to even get in the pool a month ago, let alone put his face in the water and blow bubbles. But after four little lessons, he is excited about coming every week, blowing great bubbles underwater, floating with some success, and wanting to swim across the pool on his own.

This is why I love my job. Every day is an adventure. Every day brings a smile to my face. My wish is that everyone could be lucky enough to enjoy their job as much I do.

-William Henry-

The post A day in the water with Will appeared first on Swim Jim.