Saving lives- that's what I do. That's what I like to do. Sure, it may be stressful at times, but it's all worth it in the end. Knowing that you had a part in keeping someone alive is a very rewarding feeling. It helps to remind myself and everyone else out there that our lives are fragile. Simply teaching your friends and family how to swim can make all the difference. Here are some lessons I have learned from being a lifeguard.
Working as a lifeguard at a community pool or at your local YMCA really does help give back to the community. You get to meet people of all ages at the pool and this can really help you connect with others you might not have known beforehand.
It's definitely a rewarding job as well. Saving people is not fun, and neither is waiting and watching the water for several hours, but when you do spot someone in distress you can react within seconds to possibly save a life. This definitely makes you feel good about yourself. You've done a job that most would not be able to do and that's something you should be proud of.
You meet the best people while lifeguarding. They all share the same passion and joy as you do, so that gives you guys common ground. You also become closer than you would if you were in any other job. You're in a lot more intense and stressful situations than others would be. You get to see each other while under pressure and you get to share that unique bond with others that brings you guys closer.
Some of the best memories are made while working or after hours. Since you're most likely spending all of your day with these people you will become really close. You get to tell stories of your saves and you get to explain your problems to people who actually understand what it's like in those types of situations.
You know what to do in a life or death situation. You're prepared for the worst at all times, and when the time comes, CPR or first aid is like second nature to you. Since you're prepared for the worst, you can work well under stress which is a great attribute to have as you grow older.
Lastly, you understand that life is short and that we need to live it to its fullest. You know what the worst case scenario is and you know that we're all fragile. Life can blink by in a second and you know that we should not take life for granted.
As a lifeguard myself, I know that it's not always easy and it's not always fun, but it's definitely one of the best jobs out there that I've ever had. It's taught me a lot of life lessons that I'll value for the rest of my life. And I hope it gives you a reason to become one too.
