Standing watch at Schoonover Pool

1. How did you land this job?

I actually live really close to Schoonover. I came here a lot when I was young, I just thought it would be a neat place to work. I had so many good memories here and I just wanted to be a part of it.

2. Do you feel any pressure now that you are the head lifeguard?

Yeah, last year I was just a regular lifeguard. This year they asked me to be head lifeguard so I accepted. I'll probably find out when the pool opens. As of right now, I'm just trying to help the new kids out, let them know what they need to be doing and everything to get the pool ready. I'll see when the pool opens, I guess.

3. Do you ever get bored?

No, it's pretty busy when the kids are playing around and everything. You have got to keep an eye out. I don't typically get bored. We have a break every hour. We switch chairs every 15 minutes so I think that pretty much keeps it so we have something new to look at.

4. Does switching every 15 minutes keep you more attentive?

Exactly. That's why we do it to make sure we're attentive so we don't miss something because we do get bored and zone out, or something like that.

5. Have you ever saved someone?

Actually, yeah. To get in the deep end you have to take a swim test and I don't know if it would really be saving someone's life but a lot of kids try to take it and they wind up struggling and going under a little bit so there have been quite a few instances where we have to jump in and go rescue them.

6. Do you wear sunblock?

I didn't last year but I'm going to try to do it this year because I have a sunspot and I kind of got burned a little bit.

7. Do you wear that white cream all over your nose?

Oh, no.

8. Is this a good job for you to meet guys?

Well, when you're in the chair you're not really supposed to be socializing. But yeah, there's people who come through, you know.

9. What aggravates lifeguards the most?

Just breaking the rules. If you let someone know and they don't care or they shrug it off and they do it anyways just to spite you that's the No. 1 thing. It's hard to tolerate that after awhile. It's annoying when you're trying to do your job.

10. Do you ever have to throw someone out?

Yeah, we have had instances where we have done that but usually people listen once, you know, if you get the manager out there if you're having problems most people will calm down.

11. What's the best part of the job?

The best part of the job is knowing that, like, there's kids and this is the best part of their day and you're a part of that. I don't know, being out in the sun and by the pool is always fun.