Movies are Inspiring
(Sep 2019)
Movies are Inspiring:
At the age of 8 I would go swimming, during the recreational schedule from 2-4 PM on Saturdays at Centennial Pool. I would remain in the shallow end of the pool because I could not swim. The occasional float or glide I managed, with a lifejacket on would be the occasional milestone I would feel proud of. It would continue throughout the year, but the frequency of pool going would increase during summer vacation.
I would admire those that could swim and observe those going off the big board. It would always be a delight to see someone dive off the big board and the splashes caused by the cannonballs would make my day.
One day, during family time at home, where we would gather to watch movies, was the stepping stone to my desire of becoming a Lifesaving Instructor and Examiner at the pool. The movie responsible for my inspiration was Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, starring Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow. There was a scene at the beginning of the film, where Elizabeth Swan (Keira Knightley) passes out and falls into the water. At that time, Jack Sparrow conversing with two Navy Guards, atop a ship notices her fall and asks them, if they are going to save her, to which they articulate their inability to swim. Thereafter Jack dives into the water and rescuing the ‘damsel in distress’.
The act of diving so perfectly and saving someone, sparked my desire to want to be like Captain Jack Sparrow. But one is limited in what they can do as Captain Jack, of course, since I was underage to truly live a Pirate’s life. But I could at least mimic his actions and it started off with a desire to dive perfectly off a height. To do that, I would have to be in the deep end, since it’s not safe to dive into shallow water. Which meant I needed to know how to swim. My parents enrolled me for swim lessons (not because I told them I wanted to be Captain Jack Sparrow), but because swimming is a good skill to have especially if you are living in a country that has a lot water and facilities that promote safe swimming.
Anyhow, I would attend classes and go to recreational swimming to improve my swimming and diving skills. The day I perfected the dive, I would stand at the edge of the pool and ask anyone who came to swim with me in the voice of Captain Jack (Yes, I had perfected his speech and I was known for that throughout elementary school; ask anyone who attended Woburn JR. between 2006-2007), “will you be saving her?” to which they would say “I can’t swim” (in a British accent), to which I would reply “Pride of the king’s navy you are” and dive into the water”. It was fantastic, I was living the Pirates Life in my head. Oh yeah, on a tangent 2006-2007 was the same year I received the title of Mr. Bhim, a character I played in a play that was written, rehearsed and performed at the school assembly by my group of friends and I to spread awareness about bullying, I will talk about that play sometime.
I kept doing my levels, and I started working at the age of 14 as an Assistant Swim Instructor. As I reached the age to become Lifeguard and Instructor, I got my qualifications. Here I am now teaching swimming, lifesaving and Examining. It is a fun job that allows me to remain fit mentally, physically and somewhat spiritually. I don’t really like to think of myself as Captain Jack Sparrow anymore, but when given the opportunity I do not hesitate to mimic his walk and speech, before diving into the pool when I am with friends. Movies can be inspiring. All fictions have a zilch of reality and you can optimize and implement what you see on screen to improve your condition. I did not know how to swim and a bit of spark from one scene lead me to teach swimming, leadership and lifesaving.