Josie Fuller

I have only quit one thing on the first day-twice. I quit the five and under summer swim team after quickly realizing I was afraid of the deep end. Ten years later, I swam one day with my high school team and just did not like it. Knowing this, you may be surprised to learn that my first, only, and current job is lifeguarding and teaching swim lessons.

Lifeguarding is straightforward once you get past the certification course. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, the outdoor pool is open, so I am kept entertained by the families who come to swim. I wake up at 4:00 AM many summer mornings to open the pool for lap swimmers trying to avoid the chaos of the day. During the winter, I am kept busy by swim teams and my own thoughts.

I am also certified to teach adults and children to swim. Days where I teach group lessons are exciting and terrifying. Some months I am responsible for the safety and education of five three-year-old swimmers. I prepare a lesson to keep their focus for the full hour. I make up games to appeal to their short attention spans while also teaching important skills. I often have plans after I teach lessons, so my friends are not surprised when I arrive a few minutes late with wet hair.

My favorite part of my job is my access to the gym. Every time I commute to work, I arrive an hour early to get a quick workout in. My co-workers, being lifeguards, are super active too. We go on group hikes, swim in waterfalls, and play lots of spikeball together. The hours are flexible, so I stay on top of my schoolwork and involved with my friends and family easily.