Parent: June cover story
A teen lifeguard on responsibility, focus and misconceptions
By Kate Jonuska
Photos by Carol Lawrence, special to Pikes Peak Parent
When the final bell rings to let students out of school for the summer, many teenagers exchange books and pencils with plastic gloves for cleaning bathrooms or uniforms with funny hats.
But kids like Austin Ord, an 18-year-old senior at Liberty High School, have found a way out of typical teen work in fast food and retail by becoming lifeguards, a position that offers teens a rare level of respect and responsibility. And it doesn’t hurt that he gets to hang out next to a pool on the clock.
“At my previous job, you were the bottom of the pyramid, with no respect whatsoever,” explains Austin, who will serve his second summer as a guard with the City of Colorado Springs this year. “A lot of jobs don’t trust you with responsibility. You’re there for one task only.”
But after completing a YMCA certification course, a six-hour orientation and ongoing training, Austin finds himself in a position of trust and authority daily.
“It empowers you … Not many jobs certify you to save someone’s life. At a teenage age, that’s pretty cool,” Austin explains. “It’s not just flipping burgers.”
CLICK HERE to view a PDF of this article, which ran in the June 2008 Pikes Peak Parent magazine.
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