Thank you for making this first year at North Center so special. In tough times, we believe it's extra important to express our gratitude to all those who have made this journey possible.
It’s hard to believe that our North Center Big Blue Swim School location has been open for one whole year of swim lessons. During this difficult time with our doors closed due to COVID-19 precautionary measures, we are taking a moment to reflect on how grateful we are for all of our Big Blue families who have made this past year of swim lessons so special.
Since opening our doors on March 18, 2019, our dedicated, full-time Swim Associates have spent every day teaching kids ages 3 months to 12 years old the life-saving skills needed to be safe around water, all while having fun. To help put this into perspective, we want to show you, by the numbers, just how much we've accomplished this past year:
We're so proud of what we've accomplished together, and we can't wait to get back in the pool and achieve even more in this next year.
We also want to take this time to recognize our incredible Swim Associates. Their patience and enthusiasm for teaching swim lessons week-after-week is critical to kids learning to swim and building confidence in the water. Here’s what some of our instructors have to say about their favorite moments from this past year:
Jared: “It’s incredible to see the transformation the kids make. To go from being scared and not wanting to come to class, to being excited to jump in the water is such a proud moment as a Swim Associate.”Chris: “When I applied to Big Blue at North Center, it was such a unique opportunity. It was investing in a way that was bigger than myself - this was bigger than all of us. I knew from the beginning that Big Blue was different. Before North Center opened, I was training in Niles for 8 hours a day for a month, with a 4 hour daily commute on top of it. Some of my coworkers had it easy, and some had to do more commuting than I did. We did what we had to do because we saw the bigger picture. Fast forward to February 25th, 2020 - I just hit my year in the company. What makes me stay? I love the people I work with, I love the values and principles that Big Blue instills upon us, and I have so much love for the kids. I have kids I haven’t taught in months who will go out of their way to yell “Hi, Mr. Chris!” from the other side of the pool. I love what I do, and I am great at what I do. I can’t tell you how many ribbons I helped my kids achieve, nor can I count how many meaningful connections I’ve made with families. What I can tell you is how intentional we are at Big Blue. We don’t create potential, we just remove the barriers the kids have placed around their hearts that prevent the water from flowing.”Katrina: “For me as a manager, this past year has been the best ride I’ve ever been on! To watch the site go from dirt and massive holes in the floor a year ago, to the liveliness of the swim lessons daily is incredible to watch. I love and care for the North Center team as if they are my family. I have really enjoyed being their manager this past year. My favorite moments are the ones of the scared kids while I’m managing the deck. I’m determined to get those scared kiddos in the water and will go as far as going in the water with them in my clothes! After getting the kids in the first time and watching them the following weeks get in independently makes me feel like I’ve done my job! I truly enjoy seeing kids being excited for swimming. But nothing is more exciting than telling a child and family that the child is moving up to a new level and giving them a ribbon!”Janiece: “Making teamwork happen is not just a mission statement. At Big Blue, we are a family. We are there for one another, help one another in need, and push each other to reach beyond our grasp to give the children of Big Blue something to look forward to each visit. Teaching children to swim is not just a job. It is filling a child with light, courage, hope, motivation, excitement, passion, and so much more that can be used as a tool throughout life. Who wouldn’t be proud to be a part of that journey.”
While we take pride in the culture we've created and the extensive training we provide to our Swim Associates, our Big Blue kids and their families are what make this job so impactful. Thank you for being part of our Big Blue family. Thank you for being committed to the safety and wellbeing of your children. Thank you for helping us grow our swim school so quickly in this first year. We are excited to share even more Big Moments with you and your family in the years to come.
In the spirit of reflection, share your favorite Big Blue moments from this past year with us on Facebook and Instagram (make sure to tag us so we can re-share your post).