Thank you for every summer.

To all of my swimmers, past and present, and to the parents and families who supported them:

As my career in aquatics comes to an end, I find myself feeling incredibly grateful for the past 12 summers spent teaching in my backyard pool.

To every swimmer who stepped into my pool, thank you. Thank you for trusting me, for working hard, for trying again when something was difficult, and for letting me be part of your learning. I have watched so many of you grow – not just as swimmers, but as little people becoming confident, capable and brave. I will always remember the joys, the triumphs, the challenges, the breakthroughs and those wonderful moments when a swimmer found their float, learned to dive, strung together the pull → breathe → kick → glide of the breast stroke or beat the clock during a timed swim.

And to the parents: thank you. Thank you for driving, waiting, sitting through lessons, rearranging schedules, encouraging your kids, cheering them on and trusting me with something so important. I know how much time and effort went into getting your swimmers to my pool, and I never took that for granted.

I am also incredibly grateful for the support of this community. For 12 summers, my backyard became a little swimming community of its own, and it has been such a privilege to help families become safer and more confident in and around the water. Knowing that something I taught might one day help keep someone safe is one of the greatest gifts this career has given me.

I have loved every moment of it. Even the challenging ones (Covid, pool fire, storms and broken heaters to name a few).

When I look back, I won’t remember the number of lessons I taught or the hours I spent in the pool. I will remember the faces, the laughter, the nervous first swims, the proud smiles, the high-fives, the accomplishments and the countless little moments that made these summers so important to me.

After 30 years in aquatics, I’ve decided it’s time for a new chapter. This summer was my final season teaching, and while it’s bittersweet to say goodbye to something that has been such a huge part of my life, I’m also excited to see what comes next. I’m looking forward to having a little more time pursuing some of the things I’ve put on the back burner – like mountain biking and getting my SCUBA license, and simply enjoying the summers ahead.

Thank you for swimming with me. Thank you for trusting me. Thank you for supporting me. And thank you for allowing me to be a small part of your family’s story.