I took lessons in a YMCA when I was about 6 or so. We were suppose to swim as far as we could, which for me was about a few feet, then grab the side of the pool for support. I did it a few times and then instead of swimming along side of the pool, by mistake, I swam out to the middle, when realized I was over my head and couldn't touch the side I started to panic.
My great instructor, didn't like to get in the water, and was out of the pool on the side. She sees me in trouble but still doesn't want to get in the pool. She grabs a long pole and and reaches for me to grab so she can pull me in. At this I have been swallowing water, I am in full panic mode and I can not grab the stupid pole. She has to dive in the pool, save me and pull me out. After the panic and coughing subsided it was replaced by deep deep humiliation. I refused to go to anymore lessons.
Fast forward a few years. I started going to a public swimming area in a lake. All the cool kids swam out to "the big raft" in deep water. You had to pass a swimming test to be allowed to go to the raft. For days I practiced swimming, teaching myself and until I could ask the life guard to give me the test. I passed.
Fast forward to college. We had a pool and I was determined to be a very good fast swimming. I started timing my laps. Improved my stroke as an adult to do triathlons. About 5 years ago I swam across a 3 mile lake.
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