WORKING -- John Wald

-- Story by Amy R. Spurgeon; photo by Taya Kashuba

HE IS

Teaching your toddler pillow floats, big arms and some serious kicks

this summer.

NOT A 9-TO-5 JOB

Sure, the water is cold at 8 a.m. But it’s better than being stuck in

an office behind a desk all day -- at least for John Wald, a swimming

instructor for the city of Costa Mesa.

Wald, 19, is a recent Costa Mesa High School graduate and lifeguard

who gives swim lessons at Costa Mesa’s Downtown Community Center. He has

been working there for four years, but recently decided to trade in his

whistle for a foam kick board this year.

Teaching kids to swim five days a week is Wald’s ideal summer job. He

will attend Chapman University in Orange this fall.

“It’s challenging,” the tan and freckled Wald said after lessons, his

brown hair still matted to his head. “You really get to make a difference

in these kids’ lives. It builds their self-confidence. And it’s the

highlight of their day.”

And forget about the slacks, shirt and tie. At the pool, it’s all

about sunglasses, swim trunks, water-resistant watches and sunscreen.

ONE, TWO, THREE

Wald teaches basic swim skills to small groups of children -- from age

3 and up -- every half-hour from 8:45 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“All right, let’s get going,” Wald shouted. “Kick, kick, kick. Blow

your bubbles. Are you ready to practice your big arms?”

The shivering children clutching the wall with their tiny hands

responded on cue.

“Down, back and around. Down, back and around,” Wald demonstrated,

moving from child to child for individual instruction. “Everybody say it.

OK, now try it on your own with kickers.”

Next were jump-ins.” Then pillow floats. And more kicks.

The 30-minute lesson culminated with the youngsters fetching a plastic

ring and competing in an airplane race across the pool.

SAFETY IS SPELLED M-O-M

One of Wald’s students, a pint-size 4-year-old named Laura Berry, gave

a big hug to a sibling following the lesson. Still dripping, she

acknowledged that going under the water was her favorite part.

“Good job, Laura,” cheered her mother, Kellie.

Meanwhile, Wald had made his way into his office to towel off and

prepare for lunch.

“The job pays $8.91 an hour. It’s not bad,” Wald said. “But it’s not

about the money. I love getting up and going to work.”