CSU Graduate Epitomizes the Heart of a Volunteer

AquaMissions Founder, Lynne Nagy, with AquaMissions Volunteer, Marissa Thompson

It’s a new year of programming here at AquaMissions and, naturally, we’re looking for volunteers to help fulfill our mission of saving lives and changing lives in Greater Cleveland through introductory water experiences, swim lessons, and water safety instruction…

So we thought this would be a great time to tell the community what we’re looking for in a volunteer.

First and foremost, we’re looking for volunteers with heart.

There are many ways people can help us, but the most important thing is to come from the right headspace (and heart-space) to advance our mission and be a light in the lives of the children we serve.

Perhaps the best way to illustrate the heart of an exemplary volunteer is to highlight the story of our first CSU volunteer, who recently graduated this past December…

Enter Marissa Thompson.

Marissa Thompson is a Columbus, OH resident who came to CSU to pursue a Major in Health Science, with a sequence in Pre-Vet Medicine.

She didn’t know a whole lot of people in the Cleveland area, so when the Department of Health Sciences sent out an email regarding volunteer opportunities with AquaMissions, it piqued her interest.

“I don’t know how to swim,” she thought, “but I would love to work with kids and meet some new people in the area.”

So in the Fall of 2024, Marissa showed up to an AquaMissions session, ready to “jump in” (pun intended) and help.

She started by observing the swim instructors teaching the kids basic things like getting used to putting their faces in the water, pushing air out of their noses underneath the water, and practicing “dragon breathing.”

She helped in any way she could but, as we said, Marissa did not even know how to swim herself.

So, in between classes, she began practicing the skills herself.

In other words, Marissa was learning with the kids… on the same timeline as the kids… and learning the skills as they learned them.

When the students were practicing kicks in "superhero" fashion (kicking with a board), Marissa was doing it right along with them.

When they progressed into moving their arms while kicking, Marissa was learning this skill as well.

All-the-while, she was able to help with the kids… and relate to them.

Her favorite part of volunteering was meeting the students and witnessing their unique personalities.

So when we think of our ideal volunteer, we can’t help but think of Marissa — someone who was willing to “jump in” and help, while also learning with the kids herself.

If you’re interested in volunteering with AquaMissions…