The summer of 2024 was a busy one for Amiera Black, a grade 12 student at St. Michael’s Catholic Secondary School in Stratford. With the help of Jennifer (Amiera’s mom), Mirjam Schut (Facile Perth), the City of Stratford and the Red Cross, Amiera spent the summer as a Pool Assistant at the Stratford Lions’ Pool. Amiera will soon finish high school and because of a partnership between the Huron-Perth Catholic School Board and Facile Perth, Amiera had the support of a facilitator to identify her goals and tap into her community this summer!
This was Amiera’s first job and throughout the summer months she worked 3 times a week. She was very confident that this was the job for her – Amiera has been swimming all her life and is quite comfortable on the deck and in the water. This girl knows the rules around the pool!
At Work
Some of Amiera’s responsibilities at the Lions Pool were getting the equipment ready for classes, helping with the parent and tot class (singing and encouraging little ones), helping with the summer swim team (demonstrating and correcting strokes for team members), and helping with upkeep and maintenance around the pool (sweeping and cleaning).
It did not take long for Amiera to learn how to do her job. To start, she had one day of training with her supervisor. Her mom stayed with Amiera for her first shift and gave her a few cues when needed. By her third shift, Amiera was ready to dive in, doing her job independently! Amiera’s employer provided her with a book of instructions to refer to, if needed, and there were always co-workers to ask if questions arose.
An Opportunity to Share Her Passion
Amiera feels like her summer job at the Lions’ Pool has had a positive impact on her life, and on the lives of others. Her job has helped her grow her independence and challenged her to master new skills (like speaking in front of others). She also really likes earning her own money! Amiera is very proud of the work she did this summer, especially when she was able to help some of the summer swim team participants improve their strokes.
By tapping into her community, Amiera was able to share her passion and talents this summer. Her job at the Stratford Lions’ pool is an exciting example of how creative thinking and an inclusive mindset can support young people to thrive in our community.
Amiera is busy training for Fall and Winter swim season, and she hopes to return to the Stratford Lions’ Pool next summer!
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