Kavitha entered the water with such confidence that I began to doubt why she was in the project. It seemed as if she was going to bounce off the bottom and start swimming laps. Until we got to about chest deep water, at which point I could see her tense up. She held on to the wall as she slowly submerged and blew bubbles.

I love to wear them. I prefer to wear them. Growing up, I wore contacts, so I had to wear them. I use them all the time when I teach. Buuuttt...I do not allow my swimmers to become addicted to them. They start the lesson without them and they jump in without them. Because if they ever accidentally fall in the water, they most likely will not be wearing goggles.

Karina was mellow, but serious, and clearly determined to push herself, showing me breaststroke with her head out of the water, After half a lap she was tired. Well, yea! She had to hold her head up so her neck was stiff. If your body is not relaxed in the water, the water will not hold you up. You have to trust the water. Although she was moving through the water, it was forced and she was fighting the resistance of her entire body. Her head was up, so her feet were down.

Two days after her lesson, I received the loveliest letter from Nicole that brought tears to my eyes. Here are some of the wonderful things she had to say…