Rosemary Yun
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Too often, I am told about what I am doing alone. It could not be further from the truth, God is with me. He has a plan and a purpose for my life, my children’s lives, and He sends help to fulfill His purpose. Rosemary is an extraordinary woman that I believe is an answer to prayer.
I have always wanted my children to be strong swimmers. That was my only goal for their swimming. I wanted them to be able to hold their own in any given body of water. I wanted to travel the world with them and anticipated that we would be in bodies of water without lifeguards. I wanted them to be safe. It was a life skill that I wanted them to have strength in.
As a child, I spent long beautiful summer days at the pool. In high school, swimming was a part of Physical Education (PE). In college, swimming was a part of our physical training. If I needed to bike for rehab, I angled for swimming instead. Additionally, we had to pass a swim test to graduate. While it was not a problem for me, I knew many classmates that feared this seemingly unsurmountable obstacle. As an adult, I wanted to do a triathlon. I had one friend that was willing and able. Many of the others that would have potentially considered, did not know how to swim or were not strong enough swimmers to consider. Antonio, my late husband, did not know how to swim. Eventually, he managed his fear and he would snorkel and participate in select water activities with a lifejacket on. Each of these experiences left a distinct impression on me.
I had Alivia and Audrey in swim lessons since they were three months old. At my gym, it was the youngest they could start lessons. I was swimming with Alivia in Mommy and Me classes with Audrey developing in my belly. Year after year they gained proficiency and additional skills. They could swim the length of a pool unassisted without a life jacket or similar aid. They could get wristbands to go down the water slides independently by 4 years old. When they were tall enough for the waterpark rides they were safe enough for those conditions, but they just weren’t quite the strong swimmers that I had hoped they would be. I decided that they needed to put in more reps in a different environment.
I attended an open house for the neighborhood swim team at our community center. The opportunity sounded incredible. It was just what I was looking for, but timing wise it was going to be tough. On any given day, it would require flawless performance to get my daughters to swim practice. I would have to leave work perfectly on time. There would need to be optimal traffic conditions including better than average rush hour. My children had to be ready standing at the door of the school ready to immediately get into the car without shenanigans. I would need a perfect parking spot and get my girls into their swim suits and onto the pool deck without delay! That type of pressure for perfection over the course of six weeks was impractical at best.
Rosemary always has a smile on her face! I don’t know exactly how we met, but we live in the same neighborhood. She is married to John and her daughter, Abby is the same grade as my daughter, Audrey. We were at the same meeting for swim team. With her hallmark smile on her face, she offered to pick up my two girls from school and bring them to the pool for practice two or three times a week.
At that time, Audrey was six years old and Alivia was seven years old. We went through great lengths to get them to the pool. Audrey would not stay in the pool. She would get in for a lap or two and then she was right back out again. Alivia was all in. Rose did her best to redirect Audrey into the pool.
In the moment it was huge blessing and it continues to grow exponentially and impact many lives. From summer swim, Alivia and Audrey went on to try out for club swim and swam competitively for years. Alivia and Audrey helped me teach their cousins, Shiloh and Joshua to be strong enough swimmers to join the swim team. For the past three summers, we have had four swimmers in the pool for summer swim. Although Alivia pivoted to volleyball and Audrey continues to swim, each of their first jobs were teaching swim lessons and life guarding. They have taught others to swim and become more comfortable and safe in the water.
The same Audrey that Rose had to encourage to get back in the water is now breaking swim records in the Central Maryland Swim league (CMSL) and in Maryland Swimming.
“I met Diane...it gave me opportunity to think of you and thank God for you! 9-10 years ago you volunteered to take my girlies to swim team! Yesterday Audrey placed first in 100free and 50 fly for 15 and over [girls]...
What an adventure it continues to be. You helped Audrey get started. Thought you should know. It was not coincidence I met Diane yesterday...”
I don’t know how much effort this cost Rose and her family in the moment. I have given a glimpse of the return on investment, but the future impact is immeasurable.
God bless Rosemary and her family!