Ethan’s Y is Confidence

My name is Ethan, I'm 16 and the YMCA has always been a big part of my life.

Ever since I was very young, I was swimming and taking part in summer camps at the Y in Ontario. It was only natural for me to get a membership and continue with swim lessons at the YMCA of Okanagan when we moved to Kelowna.

At first, I was simply taking regular lessons and eventually my mom suggested I take a few aquatic courses — such as Bronze Cross and Bronze Medallion — to learn leadership skills, meet new people and eventually become a lifeguard.

Through these courses, I realized how much the idea of working as a lifeguard appealed to me. I decided to give it a try and became an aquatics volunteer at the Kelowna Family YMCA, providing support during swim lessons with the youngest participants and helping out with a variety of tasks wherever my team needed a hand.

After about two years, I got all my certifications and I am now proud to be a fully certified lifeguard.

It is scary to imagine I wanted to drop everything at one point, but thanks to my mom, I have continued on with swimming and I could not be more thankful to have had my family’s support.

One of the most challenging parts of my job is being able to stay focused and alert during the quiet times in the pool while staying calm and reserved when incidents happen. Going through these challenges, I have built strong mental stamina and I am thankful to my team and my mentors for teaching me everything I know today.

It has been less than a year since I started volunteering and working as a lifeguard at Kelowna Family YMCA, but I already have learned so much. My personality and my life have changed a lot since the moment I came to apply as a Y volunteer.

I am glad to have gained new skills and built meaningful relationships, but I also became a part of a large inclusive community, where everyone is welcome. For me, it begins with my co-workers and continues to grow exponentially with the families of children who participate in my swim lessons. I also meet many new people by coming to the gym and swimming pool for my 6 am workout every morning before school.

Having gone through the path to becoming a lifeguard and becoming a part of the Y family, it is easy to see all the benefits – I have gained confidence, developed many transferrable skills and built strong relationships with my colleagues and the children in my lessons. And thanks to completing standard first aid and four lifeguarding courses, I was able to receive at least twelve additional high school credits!

More recently, I was hired as an employee at the YMCA of Okanagan and I couldn’t be happier.

I highly recommend lifeguarding as a job. If you are at all curious, or if you simply want to learn a lot and meet some fun people, you won’t regret getting involved.

The YMCA of Okanagan is offering a range of Advanced Aquatics courses, taking place at the Kelowna Family YMCA and H2O Adventure + Fitness Centre. For those just starting out, the next session will be held over Spring Break with limited spaces available.

To register, call 250-491-9622.

Already have your certifications? The YMCA of Okanagan is always seeking new lifeguards to join their team. Learn more and find your Y.