Allison Brownlee spent her summers in Derry, Pennsylvania in the pool, but she was not just playing Sharks and Minnows and Marco Polo. For years, she practiced to become the best swimmer she could be and her hard work paid off when she earned a swimming scholarship to Delta State University.
Brownlee just completed her second year at Delta State, and once again she will spend this summer at the Greenville YMCA, both teaching swimming lessons and lifeguarding at the outdoor pool.
“I love the atmosphere here, and I love teaching swimming to children,” she said. “I was a little worried because I am from the North, and I did not know if I would fit in, but I really love my job here in Greenville.”
Brownlee plans to teach a couple swimming lessons everyday she works at the pool. On Tuesday morning, she had one class of 14 swimmers and one class of three swimmers.
“It is amazing watching the children learn to swim,” she said. “I get a lot of satisfaction in watching them get better at it,” she said.
Brownlee, a business finance and accounting major, said she had to give a special thanks to Mickie Sandridge and Bob Williams, who are her supervisors at the YMCA. “They have been great,” she said.
She said he goal next year is to make it to the NCAA National Swimming Championships.
Four 30-minute swimming lessons at the YMCA cost $30 for YMCA members and $40 for non-members. For more information call the Greenville YMCA at 662) 335-7258.
