Negri 1

Andrew Negri
Professor Rebecca Morean
English 100: Section 15
September 4 2014
A Day at the Swimming Pool
I knew that just a second in the water, I would sink faster than a rock with the
water covering my mouth, my lungs filling like ballast tanks, my body going numb, and
my vision turning black from suffocation. At five years old, I had watched a countless
number of movies involving accidents at sea and in other bodies of water. The most
horrifying of them all was Jaws which followed a killer shark as it preyed on innocent
beach goers; first attacking them, and then wrenching their lifeless bodies below the
surface into dark abyss of blood. Every time I would think of entering a pool the image of
that scene would surface right before my eyes. Each time before I traveled to the pool
with my family, I would coach myself repeating the thought: As soon as we arrive at the
pool I will stand in the shallow end.
My parents, on the other hand, were not quite willing to accept my refusal to
swim just because of a movie with a fake rubber shark. My fear and refusal to swim in
the pool frustrated my mother especially, because as a child she loved everything about
the water. On one particular day, as we were walking through the pool club entrance I
began to shrug away, but my father, irritably, clutched the collar of my shirt within a
second, eliminating any possibility of my escape. I hung my head in shame as he yanked
me, for what seemed to be a mile, all the way across the pool deck. In the back of my
mind I knew this was going to be the day I would have to swim. Or drown

Negri 2
Once we reached the pool deck my fathers tone of voice had already changed
from a gentle and serene tone, to a harsh and disappointed one. Before, I was even able
to open my mouth; he began to wildly flail his arms as if he were a marionette. The
blood vessels on his forehead began to bulge and his face turned a light scarlet color. My
mother tried to calm him down, but he wanted nothing other than for me to just get up
and face my fear. My heart sank because deep down inside I knew I could never forgive
myself if I let him down. He was my hero and role model, to have him think anything
less of me would be unacceptable and with siblings watching I knew they were not going
to let this episode slip by without some comment.
The decision was crystal clear: I knew I was going to have to face my fear in
some way, but I was not quite sure how to go about maneuvering my body into the pool
just yet. What were only a few minutes, felt like hours as I pictured the entire scene
zipping by in mind; the way the water would feel, what my parents thought of me, would
I be able to stand, and what would happen if I possibly just could not get myself out.
Within a split second I glanced back at my father, he had calmed himself down, finally,
and gazing into his eyes I heard him soothingly say:
Go ahead, you can do it!
I shifted my gaze back towards the pool, and right there; I realized time was no
longer my ally. Then the question dawned on me:
Millions kids swim, why cant I?
With thousands of thoughts fluttering through my head, I slowly began to put one
leg in front of the other, gingerly easing myself up to railing over the stairs. At first, I
paused unsure about whether or not I should continue, but I remembered what had

Negri 3
motivated me to make to make my way over. Just before I took the first step, I happened
to glance at the water; the small, blue tinted waves seemed peaceful and inviting. Despite
those gentle characteristics, I saw through the pools passive waft the chlorine
emanating off of the waters surface burned my nostrils and simmered on my tongue. The
only motivating factor keeping my trembling legs in motion was the absence of any
bathers present in the pool.
I lifted my left foot high over the waters surface before, beginning the process of
slowly lowering it into the water. As I submerged my entire foot, the water created a
cool relaxing sensation, completely erasing my momentary fear. I waited a moment, and
I then shorty followed the same procedure with the opposite foot; however, this time I
performed the motion with a considerable amount of ease and excitement. At this point I
was able to glide down the stairs right to my waist; the water was colder at this level, but
not even the frigid water was enough to lower my now soaring confidence. At first
something did not seem right, I was getting further away from the wall, but then reality
set in; I was walking under my own power.
I realized just how foolish I had really been, and all of my worry had been a
complete waste of time. As I have gotten older, swimming has literally become second
nature. I enjoy every aspect of the activity, especially diving deep beneath the surface.
My once paralyzing fear has pushed me into perusing a position as a lifeguard, and now I
am responsible for protecting others in the water. By entering the pool under my own
power, I demonstrated my true determination and perseverance to accomplish an
obstacle. As it turns out the best love your family can provide, is tough love. Just as the

Negri 4
fisherman in Jaws annihilated the murderous shark, I eliminated one of my greatest
fears.