Ben Mayer

My mom moved to Rye before my sister Caroline and I were born. She was a member of the Y and then when I was born, we had a family membership. So from the time I was six months old, I was going to child care and parent-child swimming classes. I progressed through the swim classes until I was about ten or 12 years old. I also did sports and was in After School Adventures. So I’ve been a lifer.

In my later years, I’ve gone through the lifeguarding class and I’ve become a lifeguard and a swim instructor here.

The Y is a great community of giving back. I was once in the situation of getting the services and now I’m on the other side where I can pay it forward. With the swim instruction, it’s nice knowing that I was once in these kids’ shoes. It’s a full circle moment and puts a smile on my face, being a teacher now and working alongside the staff who watched over me or taught me when I was younger.

It’s also nice to know that I’m having an impact. Seeing those kids progress, like the ones that couldn’t put their eyes in, and were scared to get in the water, seeing them putting their eyes in and being able to swim with no help is kind of amazing. It’s like a little pat on your back ‘I did this’.

With the lifeguarding, you get to connect with members. It’s cool when you get to recognize them and can have a conversation with them and know that when someone needs help, you’re there to help.

I think that as I go off to college and in my future I will continue to give back, and pay it forward and continue to help those who are in need.