I have worked a lot in my life, mostly teaching swim lessons and lifeguarding. I actually started teaching swim lessons and coaching around age 12. I never asked to be paid, but I would get things like gift cards and eventually started getting money for teaching lessons, but I would have gladly done it without the money. I also taught some private lessons for kids that I coached. That led me to a job when I was 15 lifeguarding and teaching lessons where I was actually getting a paycheck. I liked that job a lot when I started. I loved the people that I worked with! I was younger than most of them and so when they all left, I was still working there. Yeah, some new people came in that I liked well enough, but it was never the same. Some of my favorite memories of those years of my life are with those people I started with at that job. It was kind of hard without them. That was when I knew that I didn't want to be there anymore. I was doing it for the money and orginally the money was just a bonus and I would have worked for free. Don't get me wrong, I love kids and I love teaching but some things had changed and I was not excited about working there anymore.
When I left that job was also around the same time that I started getting really into horses. I had plans to attend camp for four weeks to be an advanced wrangler in training. The pool manager said he didn't know if he could save me a spot for later in the summer if I was planning on being gone for four weeks. And I told him that was okay, just put me on the substitute list, I'll come when I can. A year before that, I may have stayed home from camp to work. And I am so very glad that I didn't. That four weeks helped me to realize that I wanted to work with horses. After that four weeks I was hired to work as a counselor and I wanted it so badly when I applied that I would've done it for free. Looking back, I can't believe I ever thought that. Being a counselor is hard work. Not only physically, but mentally. Those kids wear. you. out. I think it's not necessarily harder than being a parent, but it's similar. Similar and harder in specific areas. For anyone who's ever done it, you know exactly what I mean. The next summer I worked as a lifeguard and the following a wrangler. I have wanted to be a wrangler since I was ten years old and I loved every single second of it. I absolutely would have done it for free. Camp has been the highlight of my summer since before I can remember. I can't imagine summer without it. It makes my heart ache to know that I may be saying goodbye soon. I love camp so much and I would work there for free because I love it.
Working with horses at camp, outside of camp, at school, and outside of school has furthered my love for the horse world and what comes with that. I know that it's hard work but that is part of why I love it so much. I can't imagine doing anything else with my life. Sometimes I doubt myself and I need someone to help me realize that I can do it, and that I will succeed. I know that I can succeed because I do love it so much. I am paying tuition to work with horses now just like I had to pay to go to camp. Hopefully in the future I will be getting paid to work with horses and I would do it for free.
I learned at a young age that if love what you do for a living then you can't really call it work. And that is all I have ever really wanted. To do what I love and to love what I do.
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