[TheYuckyDuck]

Ok, this is VERY strange. I was a Lifeguard for 4 years, a WSI and Lifeguard Instructor for 5 years, and 2nd youngest IT ever certified by ARC. I enjoyed it, too.

Had my life not unexpectedly been hijacked by a "for fun" project, I might still be teaching. We were 2 friends/ex-band mates, who (after 3 years) happened to be in the same city, both far away from our hometown. We were just killing time and trying to amuse ourselves, but practically overnight we're on the other side of the planet, immersed in a band and responsible for massive amounts of money, equipment logistics, livelihoods of families, production schedules, a whole crew of weirdos, plus million other things in addition to the standards we demanded from ourselves. Everything else went by the wayside. We got used to juggling the knives as we pulled them out of our backs. Keeping contractual obligations while satisfying self-imposed conditions, fragile egos, and lofty ambitions, eventually proved too much. After last summer we decided not to re-sign and walked away (after ****... 20+ years) I've spent most of this year producing for bands, a little session work, a few guest spots, and developing ideas for future a project. I even tried giving Drum Lessons for a while, but I couldn't do it. I had NO patience with students that didn't practice enough, which was most of them.

But, I used to love being a Lifeguard Instructor. The realization that I used to do that, hasn't crossed my mind in years, until today. I just put everything out of my life as if it never even happened. Thanks for reminding me! I used to have interests other than music. This might be a good time to get my LGI renewed; CPR/BBP/AED Cert. updated, and teach again... I think I will.

How the hell did I let myself get so jaded? ****! Seriously!!! What the hell is wrong with me? I feel like I woke up and missed a decade. What kind of sane person blocks out years of rewarding experiences, significant accomplishments, highly-refined skills and abilities, because they don't want the distractions? I'm not sure it was worth it. I actually feel fantastic, right now. I'm not cool with the fact that I've had nearly 1 year without conditional or financial limitations, to do anything I wanted, ... and in all that time, I didn''t come up with this one by myself.

As an LGI, I didn't need patience or bargaining. If you weren't good enough, you failed. Not tough enough? Too slow? You failed.. Maybe that's why I liked it. I had a 55% pass rate, compared to a regional average of 85%. I also had a reputation for turning strong swimmers into great LGs. My charter didn't mind. My kids always had jobs, and usually for higher than normal rates I always had a waiting list for students, too. 3 years before leaving I was asked by the Parks Dept. to start an Open Water LG course, and provide them staffing recommendations from those who passed. I agreed to develop an OWL course and be the Primary OWL IT. I declined to consult on staff, however. Anyone who could Pass, was considered highly recommended. Not many did. Never had a group exceed a 30% Pass rate. If you don't pass, you can't work the beach. Best damn OWL crew on the Gulf. They started at $30/hr, and that was over 15 years ago. I can't believe I haven't even thought about them for so long. I'm curious to see how the OWL Program is doing now. Damn.

Come to think of it... I used to paint allot, I was a 2nd-team All-Amer. HS Basketball player, Pro-level Jet-Skier, and pretty OK on a Water Ski, Wake-board, and Surfboard too. I sailed a 16' Hobie Cat and Windsurfer. I even had a real live dog.
I haven't touch any one of those things in 12 years or more.. Not even 1 of them, and that felt perfectly normal to me, until just now. I used to have Friends.. and Hobbies.. Interests... and Talents that had nothing to do with music. Jeezus.. I've got 2 Engineering Degrees from Georgia Tech and I've never even used either one. And I'm almost 40....**** Me!

Somehow, that word: "Lifeguard", made a huge impact on my life. I realize now I've given almost half of it up in servitude to a music career. I don't regret it yet, but I may in the end. Music has been good to me, but it comes at a heavy price. It can leech your id right through your ****ing skull if you allow it get on top of you.
I'm ****ing done with it. Finally. I'm gonna go take my damn life back now...
Thanks Guys.. I owe you one..... at least one.....
I think I'll go have a Beer. It's only been 10yrs.
I'm outta here... Later.. Thanks Again!


I would love to hear theories on how Drummers and Lifeguards seem to be wired just alike. It's more than a little freaky.

[butter]

Nice story, man. One question, what is an IT certification? I have never heard of that.
I'm going to take a WSI class probably next year, I probably won't have time until the summer, though.

Heres a question for us: Why did we decide to become lifeguards?

Personally, I have no idea. It seemed like a fun job, plus it gives the opportunity to protect lives, so I just went with it. Now I love it. If only the little kids could speak well

[chaser334]

Well me, im just a 16 year kid who love love LOVESS to swim, play Drums, and chill with his friends. I need money to fund my very expensive habbit of drumming, so i figured why not lifegaurd, im a strong swimmer, and alot of my friends are lifegaurds too, so its a way to connect with them, have a job involving one of my passions(swimming), and it can fund my drumming . Sounds all good to me!. i went to a concert like 2 months ago to see my favorite band 311, and the opening act was this group called "pepper" and they sounded alot like sublime. but anyway, what was funny was all of them we also lifegaurds and there whole stage presence was about lifegaurding because they had their lifesaving devices on stage, and a surf board, and a whole bunch of other pool oriented things. Well hopefully soon i can take my lifegaurding class so i can get to work, i just dont know how im gonna get any drumming time in when ill be working as a lifegaurd, going to school, and going to swim practice every night, its gonna be hectic man.

[butter]

You'll find time, man. Between 4 AP classes, work, marching band, homework, drama, church stuff, and a social life, I still find about an hour a day to play, not including what I do before school in zero hour at sectionals, and my own band on the weekends. Drums are important.

I saw pepper once in Arizona. They are chill.

[tamamamama]

Lifeguards and drummers have thrones? Thats all I have haha

[chaser334]

haha very true tamatama. and yes drumming/music in general is very VERY important

[TheYuckyDuck]

"IT" stands for "Instructor Trainer".

Only an "Instructor Trainer" is qualified to Teach the "WSI" (Water Safety Instructor) and "LGI" (Life Guarding Instructor) Courses.

The "IT" designation can’t be "Acquired". An IT candidate is “Selected”.
Normally, there are (2) per region. If a region needs a new IT, it's to replace one who's stepping down, or to add a 3rd one to staff.
The "AIR" (Active Instructor Roster) lists all WSIs & LGIs in the region. The new IT Candidate will be selected from the “AIR” list.

It's almost a certainty that active ITs, have taught each WSI & LGI in the region, at least once, and often more than once. (As only an IT can train a WSI or LGI) The process starts with each active IT nominating 2-3 candidates from the AIR, based on their experience and level of confidence from having personally trained them. The Regional Director nominates 2-3 candidates based on Reputation, Teaching History, and Student Evaluations. Then list is gets narrowed down to 2 or 3 usually and sent off with their records for committee approval. In my case, the list never had more than 2 names on it from the start.
If approved, the candidates are notified they are being considered for IT Certification. If they agree to accept the duties and extensive demands the position requires, the interviews take place and a Candidate is chosen. Then they’re trained individually by an Evil Bastard perfectionist, from the Organizational Level.