If you’ve visited SwimRVA in the afternoon, you may have been greeted with a smile from Shana, our Relationships Coach. Although Shana has been working for SwimRVA for a few years now, she recently made the decision to enroll in Swim School lessons to learn how to swim. 

“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do, because I’ve never felt comfortable in the water.” Shana explained. “This felt like the perfect opportunity to learn, and working in a position that is surrounded by swimmers helped to encourage me as well.”

Shana started the program in February, recalling that her first lesson was not easy both physically and mentally. “After my first lesson I was hard on myself, and honestly felt a little embarrassed”, Shana reflected, “but, I learned that with dedication and time anything is possible. I felt myself progress over the course of the lessons and realized how important repetition is when learning how to swim.” Shana’s strong work ethic was apparent, as she moved through the stations and graduated the program at the beginning of October. 

Shana’s passion for learning how to swim didn’t just stop with herself; she also encouraged four of her family members to enroll in swim lessons with SwimRVA. Taking lessons by her side, Shana’s sister Charlene also graduated Swim School and Shana’s brother, Alex, is currently enrolled in the program. Her nephew Brandon has also graduated and her niece, Nylah, is on the final station in addition to having participated in our Learn-To-Swim program as a second grader.

When asked about her favorite part of the experience, she shared that “I really enjoyed getting to meet and interact with so many different people who were in lessons with me. I also really appreciated how kind and informative the instructors and coordinators were to me during the whole process.”

Overall, Shana expressed her gratitude for the opportunity and flexibility SwimRVA offered, and left with the lasting impression that “There is truly a valuable lesson in never giving up.”