Like many of you, I plan on joining the well-known group of young Americans known as college students this fall. Yes, will likely study and perhaps gain some sort of knowledge from these four years, but more importantly, I’m there to have fun.
Ha ha, you think I’m joking. I probably am, a bit. But I do know that I will be pursuing adventures beyond the dorms, lectures, and dining halls of my school. To date, I am not 100% sure on which college I will be attending, but it will be in one of possibly three major US cities: Chicago, Boston, or New York. And another thing I know with certainty is that exploring cities— especially these cities— takes money, a resource growing more scarce to me most every day.
To summarize my convoluted opening paragraphs in five words: I need a summer job. Well, I’ve done some looking around, and I came to the conclusion that the best summer job for me is to be lifeguard at Centennial Beach. It sounds fun and pays well, and the work uniform simply can’t be beat. I get to take my shirt off! And get paid for it!!
I’ve already interviewed for the job, but to actually land the position I will need to pass rigorous swimming tests and training in May. For one of the tests, guards have to swim three lengths at 15 feet underwater all with a single breath per length. Currently I am unable to do this, but I have a few months before real training starts. I talked to a couple current lifeguards at The Beach, and asked how I could prepare.
The answer was simple: “Swim.”
So I’ve been practicing a bit.
I became a member of the Kroehler YMCA on January 10th, and I’ve been swimming several times a week ever since. It’s been about two weeks now, and I’m starting to notice that I can go a little farther on a single breath. I typically swim freestyle for an hour.
As it turns out, my newly forming habit may well benefit me in ways outside potentially landing me a job. To start with, there are health benefits, as swimming is a great cardiovascular workout. Swimming burns a lot of calories, and I can attest firsthand that a good swim will fuel an enormous appetite. (Mine is already sizable too!) Swimming also strengthens hearts and improves brain function. Body fat can eventually be lost after sustained swim training, contributing to a more healthy body.
It turns out that swimming can also help make a person more healthy even in non-physical ways, by improving sleep patterns and lifting moods and self esteem. But there’s another reason I find it easy to stick to my swimming routine- it’s genuinely enjoyable.
I’m a seasoned cardio athlete, having run cross country for all four years of high school, and I can say without a doubt that swimming is just more enjoyable than running. When you’re swimming, you can think about anything you want, you don’t sweat, you don’t have to worry about cars, you don’t overheat- it’s great. It just feels peaceful and I always feel great after a swim, aside from the hunger. Swimming also has very little impact on joints, so it allows for an easy recovery and daily swims do not damage the body in any way.
While I am by no means dissatisfied with my current level of fitness, I am excited to continue on my aquatic journey to pursue an even more healthy version of myself. And hopefully become a lifeguard along the way.
Sources:
https://www.healthline.com/health/benefits-of-swimming
https://myswimpro.com/blog/2017/11/10/recovery-for-swimmers-what-you-need-to-know/
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