Zariyah arrived at her first swim lesson feeling unsure. For much of the first session, she stayed at the edge of the pool, dipping only her feet into the water as she gathered the courage to go further.

However, when the lifeguards rotated, her mood noticeably changed.

As the next guard climbed into the stand, Zariyah’s face lit up with recognition and a wide smile spread across her face. Watching over the pool was her uncle, Corey.

Working in the Programs Department as both a swim instructor and lifeguard, Corey was among the very first instructors at SwimRVA–Church Hill. Over his seven years at SwimRVA, he has watched over and taught lifesaving skills to countless children, making the moment even more meaningful when one of the newest students turned out to be his own niece.

With her uncle there cheering her on, Zariyah found the confidence she needed. Slowly but surely, she stepped past her fear and into the water, beginning to make real progress during the lesson.

Her growth continued in the weeks that followed.

“I remember she was very excited to be in the water,” said Rachel, a SwimRVA Swim School Instructor. “The first time she was definitely a little nervous, but over the next few weeks she got super comfortable. She was always really excited for the other kids whenever they’d ring the bell. She was pretty easy to teach, too. She may not have been able to do the skill perfectly on the first few tries, but she always had a good understanding of what the skill was and what we were trying to teach.”

For Zariyah, that first lesson was about more than learning to swim. It was about overcoming fear with the support of family, community, and instructors who believed in her. We hope this is just the beginning of her swim journey!

SwimRVA’s Learn to Swim program is a school-based initiative designed specifically for second grade students in the Richmond region, bringing high-quality swim instruction directly into the school day. The program focuses on building water safety, confidence, and foundational swimming skills in a structured and supportive environment. All lessons are provided at no cost to families, ensuring every second grader has equal access to this life-saving education. By integrating swim instruction into the school day, SwimRVA removes barriers and makes learning to swim a safe, accessible, and empowering experience for young students.