Zadie Martin

POOL WATCH. Senior Anja Seifert was hired as a lifeguard two years ago at the Jewish Community Center (JCC) and has worked there ever since. She credits lifeguarding for helping her develop time management. She said, “But, I don’t think that’s inherent to being a lifeguard. I think that’s a skill that comes with just being employed.” (Photo Illustration)

Being a lifeguard means having responsibility for ensuring the safety of all individuals near a body of water. Senior Anja Seifert was hired as a lifeguard two years ago at the Jewish Community Center (JCC) and has worked there ever since.

Seifert applied for the job because she was confident in her ability as a swimmer, especially due to her experience on the SPARKS swim team.

“Almost anyone can be a lifeguard,” she said.

The only time she wouldn’t recommend applying to be a lifeguard is if someone isn’t a strong swimmer as a coworker of hers was fired because of her lack of swimming ability.

Seifert explained that her experience as a lifeguard at the JCC has been overwhelmingly positive: “The interview process was actually really nice. [My boss] sent me a list of questions beforehand, and she [said] you can prepare answers. And then I showed up, she ran through that list of questions,” she said.

Seifert also credits lifeguarding for helping her develop time management. “But,” she said, “I don’t think that’s inherent to being a lifeguard. I think that’s a skill that comes with just being employed.”

Seifert has not had many negative experiences as a lifeguard but she cites misguided frustration as a lowlight of her job. She said, “I would say the one thing that makes the environment negative is the patrons, the people that sometimes take things out on us when they shouldn’t have.”

Although Seifert has yet to execute a save during her shift, she feels the JCC keeps her well-prepared for any situation because of her thorough training. “I had a kid who was visibly struggling in the water, and I knew exactly what to do,” she said. “I was ready. I would say I’m least confident in my CPR skills, because, in theory, I know what I’m meant to do, but I’ve just never had practice on a real person.”

The JCC gives Seifert plenty of time during her shift to rejuvenate for her next patrolling.

“We work half-on, half-off typically. So each hour you rotate every 20 minutes, so 20 on, 20 off, 20 on… that’s really nice because it gives you time to do other things. For me, I do homework at work.”

Being a lifeguard requires a combination of physical ability, technical skills and a strong sense of responsibility for the safety and well-being of others in aquatic environments. Seifert encourages anyone who wants to become a lifeguard to work at the JCC.