A Lifeguards Story

This is a story from when I was younger:

A first at anything could be difficult, fun, exciting, or nerve-racking. The thing that it is guaranteed to be is a learning experience. About to turn 15, and being a swimmer, the natural thing to do was getting certified in lifeguarding. My friends and I all took the course and soon got a job a local pool.

I figured every job has its ups and downs so how could I complain; I am outside sitting in the sun, basically getting paid to twirl a whistle and yell at kids to stop running. One day, about three quarters through the summer, I really earned my paycheck.

Sitting up on the stand, relaxed in the hot summer sun, I noticed this little girl holding on to her friend’s back. They began walking to the middle of the pool where it is about a foot deeper than the rest of the pool. The little girl jumped off her friends back and her friend began to swim away. I was watching her, realizing she didn’t look like a strong swimmer and soon the little girl began bobbing up and down. Something came over me, which I can’t describe; it was like an instant reaction. I blew the whistle, dropped my sunglasses and was in the water. When I reached the side of the pool with the little girl the entire staff was there to help the girl and myself out of the pool.

Since that day to the end of the summer I felt I got more respect from the staff. I was still a rookie, however it was like I now proved myself, I was a lifeguard. Since then I have taken the job even more seriously. With any other teenage jobs you are in charge of handling money or food, but here you are in charge of peoples lives.

The following year I took a job at a day camp. I learned a lot from my experiences lifeguarding, however, my first save has to be considered one of those life-changing moments.