Rising to the Moment: From Swim Lessons to Swim Instructor
Rising to the Moment: From Swim Lessons to Swim Instructor
By Nickey Hale
A first swim lesson can lead to so much more than a new skill. For me, it led to a career at the RBAC. As we close out the year, I want to share my story and what this community can grow into.
Nickey Hale | Swim Instructor and Lifeguard
I first came to the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center around the age of 7, starting out in swim lessons. I moved into the swim team when I was about 7.5 or 8, and stayed until I was 18. Years later, I came back, this time as a swim instructor, and today I also work as a lifeguard.
For me, the choice to teach was a natural one because swimming has always been close to my heart, and being able to pass on life-saving skills, along with a sport I care so much about, is incredibly fulfilling. The Water Safety Program is really cool because you get to see kids learn important water safety skills in a very short time.
The RBAC swim team also prepared me for swimming in community college because it gave me the work ethic I needed to swim at PCC. Today, I'm a Kinesiology major at CSUN with an emphasis on exercise science.
What I value most about the RBAC is how much it offers to the community. With so many programs and spaces for so many different people, almost anyone can walk in and find something that fits.
Why Your Gift Matters
Behind every first lesson, every swim team practice, and every lifeguard on deck is a community that makes it possible. If you believe in the kind of community my story represents, I invite you to give before the year ends. Your gift supports the next swimmer taking that first step.