My First Year as a Lifeguard by Joseph

My First Year as a Lifeguard by Joseph - January 2024 Scholarship Essay

In the summer of 2023 I spent most of my time as a beach lifeguard in North Wildwood, New Jersey. Lifeguarding was one of the most rewarding and challenging experiences of my young life. It was a great experience and I will remember it for the rest of my life. I hope to continue to do it for another few summers, saving lives and being exposed to the sun so long my brown hair turns dirty blonde.

I have spent summers in Wildwood for the last 12 years after my parents bought a summer home in 2012. I can't even remember how a summer felt in Philadelphia except the heat was so much worse. I even prefer living in Wildwood to Philly all-year round. It's so much more peaceful, cleaner, and in a way it's beautiful.

I learned much in my first few days of lifeguarding, the most important one being that you shouldn't be scared of a rescue, you should enjoy the thrill of it and not be nervous over your first one. During my first year I had three rescues, one by myself and two with more than one guard. My first ever rescue was the solo one, and it wasn't difficult but it felt great. A little girl was getting pulled out by the current, so I signaled to the guard on my left that I was going out to get her. She wasn't deep in for me and she was scared but unharmed otherwise. People around the beach were watching, but it was still early in the day so not many people were there. My supervisor, Lieutenant Stan, came running over and after I briefed him on what happened he said "good job" and to keep it up. It felt great rescuing someone, I've never done something like that before and it was astounding.

When you would leave the beach to go back to the lifeguard headquarters people would thank me for my service. That type of appreciation was reserved for police officers, firefighters and essential workers, but that made lifeguarding feel more important. The summer of 2023 was all about lifeguarding, it was all I could think about. Becoming a better swimmer, runner and even having the best tan out of everyone. Helping make the beach a safe place for the people visiting was a great honor and experience and I hope to continue it in the future.