The Freeing Failure of My First Swimming Experience

My childhood was a fundamental and paramount part of my life, I got through many strenuous and challenging moments. I wasn't the girl that frequently got into trouble; in contrast, I was very bashful, secluded, and typically introverted person. In the middle of summer, my family decided to go to Casablanca in order to visit my grandparents. Two days only after our arrival, my father suggested that we have to go to the local swimming pool. When he informed us that the local swimming pool was in the same town where my uncle lived, I was so enthusiastic and zealous about this idea not because I like swimming, but because I wanted to have a good time with my cousin. For many people, swimming can be an easy skill to acquire, but for me, it is a very arduous and laborious competence that I never expected to learn one day. When we arrived, the atmosphere was the calmest of all places in this crowded and noisy city. This striking place made feels relaxed and serene. The water was so clean and its blue color was as the same as that one of the sky that day. There were two swimming pools, one was for adults and teenagers and the other one was a small pool for children. There was also area where lounge chairs, and magazines on the tables are provided. My parents decided to go sitting in the pool area. I went to the women's locker room. I quickly took off my clothes, wore my wide pink swimwear, put my bag in the locker, and I gave the key to the women in charge of the cloakroom. While waiting for my cousins, I spend a lot of time watching people swim. I saw some children giggling, and splashing in the water. They seemed to have a funny time together. On the other sides, there were girls and boys, who were the same age as me, who were swimming so brilliantly and skilfully. I envied them for their ability to swim so professionally. After a while, someone shouted out my name so loudly that she interrupted my meditation. Fortunately, it was my cousin Naimawho was standing just behind me. I saluted her and we went swimming.

I was always insecure and nervous about new situations, and my first experience of swimming were not an exception. We went to pool for children. We notice that there was a big safety instructions board that prohibited people under the age of 10 years to swim there. After reading this, we were completely shaken up because none of us was able to swim. I finally decided to swim in the other swimming pool after a moment of hesitation. It was my life's most fearsome experience. The water was so chilly that I actually started to shiver when I first stepped into the pool. I unhurriedly walk down the steps with my hand clutching onto pool rail in order to avoid being overthrown. When all eyes were on me, I felt though I had been an object of ridicule and mockery. I gathered all my bravery and energy and sprung into the pool. The water wasn't too profound, just above my chest. I started moving my legs and holding onto the side of the pool because I was worried I might drown. Shortly afterwards, I started to feel more comfortable which enable me to gain confidence in myself. I took a deep breath, detached myself from the edge of the swimming pool, and started arbitrarily moving my hands. I stayed floating in water for a short moment. Unexpectedly, I lost my body's control, my heart started beating, my arms and legs became motionless. I struggled pointlessly to stay on the surface. I swallowed a lot of water and gradually disappeared from the surface of water. Fortunately, the lifeguard jumped in, grabbed me out of the water, and covered my body with a towel.

Failure is a necessary step to learn, and everything is possible with training and practice. After a couple of minutes, I started to regain consciousness. The lifeguard consoled me and ensured me that it is utterly usual for a newbie to end up like this for the first time. He smiled in a friendly way and he said' Learning new skills needs a lot of time”. He told me to hold on the side of the swimming pool and to kick for the break stroke with keeping my body flat. I obeyed his instructions of my coach to the letter which allowed me to feel more relaxed. For the second time, while I was held by the lifeguard, I broke off the edge of the pool. When I started to move my arms and feet swiftly, he removed his hands under my abdomen. I didn’t realise that I could finally tread water to stay afloat. Whenever I start losing control, he took me up to stay afloat in water. It was such a marvelous feeling realizing that I can finally control my body while swimming. I haven't learned to swim yet, but this experience proves me that learning to swim is just a normal skill that needs a lot of time and practice.

I admit that it was not simple for me to learn swimming, but my persistence and struggle gave its fruits. This experience make me believe that failing is not a bad thing, but rather the first step to learn. I never expected that swimming would be the trigger that allowed me to control my life, improve my personality, break out of my comfort zone, and overcome my apprehensions. I strongly believe that swimming skill is a very significant and essential skill that everyone should learn at an early age.