Dear Longshore Sailing School,

I don’t even know where to begin. Three summers ago I would have never imagined that I would have learned as much from this job as I have. You have taught me numerous things, given me lifelong friends, and ensured my love of the water.

Here are just a few of the things that I have learned:

Patience

Working with young children ranging from 8-16 can be tough. It can be especially tough when you're trying to teach them things during the summer when learning isn't exactly what they want to be doing. I have learned to give people more time and to be patient. Not everything comes easy to some people and by no means are most sailing techniques easy.

How To Talk To Adults

This was my first job and it's not like I didn't know how to speak to adults but I couldn't talk to them the way I can now. Reasoning with them, explaining to them, and even teaching them can be very intimidating. After gaining experience in all those things after my summers at LSS I have discovered a new found voice, one that can actually talk to an adult in a work setting.

That Work Should Be Fun

Some people count down the hours until they can finally get in their cars and leave work. Working at a sailing school has made the hours leading up to closing hard to count down. Whether it's staff sailing after hours, dock battles during down time, the hot seat during lunch, or just the general laughs that are shared I'm never counting down the hours, but instead hoping that the days would last longer.

Your Coworkers Should Be Your Friends

You spend almost everyday with them so why not become friends? The amount of time you spend together and the common interest of sailing alone should be enough. So, talking to people who I didn't know was one of the best decisions because now I have some of the greatest friends that I get to spend all summer with and all school year counting down the days until we can go back to work.

Work Ethic

Hard work pas off and if you do a good job with something it won't go unnoticed. Being professional also plays a large role. People will tae you more seriously if you know what your talking about.

So thank you Longshore Sailing School for these things that you have taught me and for the lifelong friends I have made because of you.