Now it is my great honor to talk about the wonderful and amazing life guards hired by the Plymouth Recreation Department. As well as I know most of the parking attendants I know most of the life guards even better and am very fond of them. All of them have very impressive resumes and incredible futures that lie ahead of them. They are my friends and all of them make my beach experience even better. Some of them even tell me they would save me in the very rare event of a shark attacking me —– hey guards don’t forget now!
The life guard job is not as one may expect. To even be considered for the position of a Plymouth Life Guard a person must be a very good swimmer. People that are on a swim team usually have a big edge over those that are not. Along with their swimming ability is the requirement to be high achieving well rounded individuals with great scholastic grades. Most of the guards that are in high school are in honors and AP classes and set their sites on pursuing a 4 year college degree. The veteran guards are mostly people that started their position while in high school and are now following their impressive goals set back then. They continue to perform at the top of dean’s list and on the honor rolls. So needless to say that the life guards are chosen for the job because they are go-getters. They are willing to risk their very lives for anyone in danger. I have incredible respect for them.
Every once in a while someone will say to me how great and easy of a job that the life guards have. Of course most don’t have the insight that I have on the job. The pay is close to minimum wage and like a lot of things reality is very distorted by Hollywood. Bay Watch and other similar shows and movies make it look and feel like the best job on earth. This is for the most part a thankless job that should be greatly applauded. The guards are out in scorching sun, the pouring rain, and blasting wind, all summer long for a minimum of 8 hours per day – every day, 7 days per week. Their main job is incredibly droning and monotonous, constantly staring and scanning the water and the shore line watching out for any safety issues or troubles that arise under the hot sun. Just looking and staring and scanning and watching and staring and scanning and watching. On top of all of these things they must complete a strenuous workout every week. I am not sure I would be able to concentrate or perform the way they do.
Please make sure to respect the guards and do not give them a hard time. If they restrict you from something then please listen to them, follow their rules and do not argue with them. If you disagree with them then please see the parking attendants to verify what the guards are enforcing.