At 47 years old, I accomplished something I never thought I'd do.
I learned how to swim.
If you're an adult who has always wanted to learn but felt embarrassed, afraid or convinced it was too late, I'm here to tell you it isn't.
Like many adults, I carried a fear of the water. Whether you've experienced a near-drowning, have never had the opportunity to learn or simply feel uncomfortable in the water, those fears are real. But they don't have to define your future.
For me, finding the YMCA made all the difference.
At the time, I was the membership manager at the Gretna Crossing YMCA. One morning, our team was talking about lifeguard certifications, and someone joked that everyone working mornings should become certified. I laughed and admitted, "Maybe we should find out if everyone knows how to swim first... because I don't." That simple conversation planted a seed.
What if I actually learned?
One of the biggest reasons I chose the YMCA was because they offered swim lessons specifically for adults. I didn't want to be placed in a class with children, and the YMCA created a welcoming environment where adults could learn at my own pace. Making lessons affordable also meant I could finally take that first step.
It wasn't that I couldn't swim.
I could make it across the pool.
But I couldn't save myself.
I wasn't confident in the water, and I never took my children anywhere I couldn't stand because I didn't trust my own abilities if something went wrong. I wanted that to change.
From day one, I was surrounded by encouragement.
My entire YMCA team cheered me on, celebrated every milestone and believed in me even when I doubted myself. When I shared my journey on Facebook, I had an entire community cheering me on, too. Every message of encouragement gave me a little more confidence to keep going.
Learning the strokes was only part of the challenge.
The bigger obstacle was in my mind.
Getting to the deep end became a mind game.
Every lesson pushed me a little farther. I even bought prescription goggles so I could clearly see underwater for the first time. Looking down into the deep end was intimidating, but I kept practicing anyway. I went a little deeper. Then a little
deeper.
One of my biggest hurdles was retrieving a brick from the bottom of the deep end—a requirement for YMCA lifeguard certification. At first, it felt impossible. But I wasn't about to sign up for the course until I knew I could do it. So I practiced over and over, diving for that brick until it no longer felt impossible. Confidence didn't happen all at once—it came one small victory at a time.
It wasn't always easy.
There were days I walked into the locker room after swim lessons and cried because I couldn't understand why something that looked so simple felt so difficult. But every lesson brought a little more confidence than the one before.
Then one day...
It all clicked.
Learning to swim has changed so much more than my time in the pool.
As a parent, I now have the confidence of knowing that if my children ever needed me in the water, I could help them. That peace of mind is something I never had before. Now, instead of watching from the shallow end, I can confidently enjoy the water with them, knowing I have the skills to keep myself—and them—safer.
This summer, my family vacationed in Okoboji, and for the first time, I jumped off a boat into the middle of the lake. Instead of fear, I felt freedom.
Swimming has also become something I can enjoy for fun and for exercise. One of my proudest moments? Conquering the diving board—something I never imagined I'd have the courage to do.
But the story didn't end there.
After becoming confident in the water, I earned my lifeguard certification. Then I completed swim instructor training. In February, I stepped into a new role as the aquatics manager at the Gretna Crossing YMCA.
Today, I have the privilege of teaching others the very skill that once intimidated me. Looking back, it's amazing to think it all started with one conversation and one decision to try.
If you've been waiting because you think you're too old, too scared or too far behind, don't wait any longer. It's never too late to learn a life-saving skill, build confidence and discover what you're capable of.
At 47 years old, I learned to swim. I became a lifeguard and not only that, I accomplished my goal. I am the aquatics manager and so much more.
If I can do it, you can too.
-Karen B., aquatics manager - Gretna Crossing YMCA
This blog post is part of the YMCA of Greater Omaha's 160 Faces of the Y series, celebrating the staff, members and communities who have helped shape our 160-year history.