Y.M.C.A Whitchurch Riding Camp January 8, 2010
Posted by jennyjumps in Working.trackback
Ahh, the beginning of my short career as a lifeguard and my FIRST REAL JOB.
The day I obtained this position, was the day Revenue Canada learned my name. I was 16 and I hadn’t yet sewn my National Lifeguarding Service badge onto my swimsuit. I was fresh out of “training camp” and ready to prevent the world from water-related tragedies.
Maybe a little too ready.
I found this position through a friend who was working as a counsellor at this camp, teaching kids to ride. It was offered at a family farm come Horseback Academy and the former lifeguard was being promoted to camp co-ordinator so they needed someone new to watch the pool.
Being the eager beaver that I was, I accepted every opportunity that came my way, including bus marshall, gardener, water activities co-ordinator, morning circle leader, pool maintenance and above all LIFEGUARD.
I guess it was a little much for my first job. I freaked out three quarters of the way through my contract when the owner criticised my gardening skills and left shortly thereafter.
I let the counsellors get away with murder. They were supposed to be helping to watch the kids but usually left during pool-time to grab a break and a cigarette. Most of the kids couldn’t swim and watching 20 kids at a time all day was stressing me out. I worked every weekday from 5am until 7pm and inevitably cracked under the pressure.
That being said, I certainly learned a good deal:
- how to ride, feed, groom horses
- how to clean and maintain pools
- job application and interview process
- how to work independently
- how to deal with co-workers, children and parents
