The summer before my first semester of college was the busiest I have ever been before. In April of my senior year of high school, I was not only asked to manage a neighborhood pool through the swimming company I had lifeguarded through for the past two years, but also coach a swim team for the entire month of June and give up my final year to swim on that team instead. Even though I would be working almost insane hours for the rest of summer, the money was good, so I agreed very quickly.

I have been on this summer league swim team since I was six years old and continued to swim all the way through high school, but the idea of having to coach other children was terrifying. I went into the season with little preparation for each practice and just tried to connect with the kids and have a fun time (the pink hair was also a big hit). I have never felt more fulfilled from any other experience than I did from coaching. Even though being slightly soft-spoken came with its difficulties when trying to get the attention of over twenty eight-year-olds, I learned to be assertive while still being kind, which continuously reaffirmed the confidence I had in myself to be able to lead or be something someone wants to look up to.

My powerful mindset carried through when I lifeguarded. I was assigned to manage a pool in a rich neighborhood, meaning it was filled with young kids who have never been told no before. I quickly gained the favor of the parents who came regularly and got to know their kids. The kids had their fun but always remembered that "my word was law” according to one of my favorite parents there.