Meet Gabby Simeone, a senior at Miami from Charlottesville, Virginia who has one of the most fun jobs on campus: she is the Learn to Swim (LTS) Coordinator at the Rec Center! But don’t be fooled; there’s much more to this title than splashing around with little swimmers all day. And with her double major in Microbiology and Latin American Studies as well as a Spanish minor, Gabby definitely has her hands full. Read more to learn about Gabby’s awesome job and how she has found success here at Miami.
Her Campus: What do you do as the Learn To Swim Coordinator?Gabby Simeone: As the Learn to Swim Coordinator I organize group and private swim lessons at the Rec. I make sure the instructors are qualified and teaching to the American Red Cross standards and that participants and their guardians are pleased with the classes. I’m available for parents to talk to/voice concerns to during the group lesson sessions and I serve as an intermediary between the student staff and the supervisors. I help run monthly in-service trainings for the LTS staff and I also teach lessons myself.
HC: How long have you been the LTS Coordinator?GS: I was hired as the LTS Coordinator in December 2013, so almost a year!
HC: What made you want to be LTS Coordinator?GS: I wanted to be in a position of leadership doing something I felt was really relevant and important to real life. As LTS Coordinator I get a lot of practice in different aspects of customer service that I think will serve me well in the future.
HC: What is the best part about your job?GS: The best part is when instructors have good stories to tell me about their students or their classes. Also, when I see kids try things for the first time and you can tell they’re really proud and happy. Watching kids feel confident and excited to be in the water is such a great feeling.
HC: What is the most stressful part of your job?GS: Parents with questions that I don’t have answers for – a lot of times I get questions like “all the other kids in the class are going under the water and my child still refuses, what’s wrong with him/her?” and I have to remind them that kids all develop differently and have different fears and strengths. Usually this isn’t sufficient though and parents want a more tangible reason why their child isn’t exactly on par with same age peers. Parents are also love to ask me to predict when exactly their child will master a certain skill and there’s really no good answer for that one either.
HC: What is the weirdest question you’ve been asked about your job, or what is the weirdest thing that has happened to you while at work?GS: When I tell other college students that I am the LTS Coordinator at the Rec they ALWAYS ask, “so do you teach just adults and college age kids?” They’re astounded to find out that Oxford has a population of residents under the age of 18.
HC: What have you learned as LTS Coordinator that has helped you (or will help you) in the future?GS: First and foremost I’ve learned to budget my time. I’ve got a really hectic schedule this semester and it’s been tough getting everything accomplished. I’ve also learned a lot of true responsibility, like other-people-are-depending-on-you kind of responsibility. Because there is only one person in my position, if I forget sometime or mix up times/dates, things won’t run very smoothly. And lastly, I’ve learned that in order to effectively communicate you have to know your audience. I have to discipline same age peers/friends of mine and I also have to talk to parents that are paying for a service as well as my supervisors at the Rec. You have to approach each situation a little bit differently.
HC: What are your plans after you graduate?GS: I just finished applying to Nursing School, so fingers crossed I get in to one of the programs! I decided well into my college career that I wanted to be a nurse so these programs are accelerated and will only take about a year to complete because I’ve taken a whole bunch of prerequisite classes.
HC: What other achievements have you made during your time at Miami?GS: I passed Organic Chemistry (barely) and I’ve been on the Club Field Hockey Team all four years.
HC: Do you have any regrets or missed opportunities you wish you could go back to?GS: In life in general? Yeah, I wish I never quit playing piano. Piano is so awesome. My kids are going to take piano lessons their whole lives.
HC: What do you do to relax?GS: I like to run, I ran track in high school and now I’ve run a few half marathons, 10 milers etc. I also really love watching documentaries about anything. Preferably in bed.
HC: After a long day of work or classes, how do celebrate? (Ex: is there a specific Ben & Jerry’s flavor or TV show you love?)GS: I really love Criminal Minds and popcorn. I could be happy for days with just those two things.
HC: Where would you like to see yourself in 5 years?GS: I’m from Virginia and I really miss the East Coast and also the mountains so I would really love to be back there. I would love to be a nurse in a job that I feel is fulfilling. I would also like to own a chubby cat that loves me.
HC: Do you have a motto?GS: “Everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end” — John Lennon
HC: How do you define success?GS: I think success is waking up every morning (okay, most mornings because everyone has bad days) and having a sense of pride in what you’re going to do that day. Knowing that whatever you do is going to help someone or something else in even the littlest way. And just having a sense of confidence that you’re helping your community or city or family to be better. Being successful is really just coming to the realization that what you’re doing matters to someone else.
HC: What advice do you give to other Miami students to help them become successful?GS: Don’t get discouraged about things that are tough. It’s so easy to beat yourself up in college because there will always be someone who is smarter or more athletic or more beautiful but you have to remember that every person is an individual. You have to find this balance between accepting who you are and pushing yourself to be the best you can be. It sounds so cliché but a huge part of college is figuring out who you are and what you’re like without your parents dictating your lifestyle. Figure out what your strengths are and then use them to make a difference. Also, get plenty of sleep and drink lots of water. Seriously, sleep is really important and so is water.