Effective Sailing Programs by Skilled

Some heroes wear capes, but I wear a pair of glasses, glasses that show me everyone has the ability to achieve their goals. Growing up in the sailing scene, sunglasses are not only an important feature for protecting eye health, but they also carry a figurative meaning. I wear glasses of equality, as I motivate everyone to be empowered to achieve their own goals, regardless of their situation. Sailing has been a passion of mine since a very young age. I seek to teach my eager sailors to be responsible, resourceful, and resilient; the lessons sailing has also taught me. For two years now, I have been the head instructor at a special needs sailing camp located in Safety Harbor, Florida. My perception of life has forever been changed since the beginning. Being a leader while being a coach is less about controlling others but enabling them to break societal barriers. Outside of camp, these sailors are labeled with developmental disabilities; but, at this camp, those conditions do not hold them back. They are all encouraged to believe they can succeed in whatever they put their minds to.

Out of the hundreds of campers I have taught and influenced, a few sailors have always stuck close to me. Sam, a young camper who has autism, struggled to sail for around two years, but after a positive evolution in my teaching philosophy, he started racing around the bay by himself. This was a monumental achievement. His mother was on the verge of tears, able to see what her son was now capable of doing. Every week, the mother comes back to me saying how he screams my name all day and won't stop saying how much he loves sailing. Another camper, having heard good reviews from across the country, flew all the way from Arizona for a week of camp. He had previously struggled making connections with his peers, but with some one-on-one practice, he ended up being capable of engaging with others and found his voice. After watching me work the boat, he was able to see through the same glasses I wear. He has since written letters to the camp stating how he can't wait to come back for spring break. Lastly, sailor Nick learned to sail independently. To add to the already difficult task of sailing, Nick is only able to use his right arm. I had to view life through his lenses and figure out how to adapt the boat to fit his needs.  Eventually, I installed extra hardware to make it possible for single-handed sailing.  He learned fast, moving on to sail independently, then taught other campers how to sail as well. Now, from the knowledge I taught him, he has qualified for a college sailing team, where he races competitively. Each unique story has continued to teach me how important it is to not place barriers on people, but rather to encourage a life filled with limitless possibilities for all.

The glasses I wear represent a change in how I perceive life. I’ve realized that it doesn't matter what is going on in the camper's life; they can experience freedom while working towards their own goals. This job has changed my life. It has helped me achieve Eagle Scout, to become the varsity captain on my high school swim and lacrosse teams, while leading our sailing team to multiple championships. In the future, I hope to expand the Freedom Sailing Camp nationwide, and to add homeschooling programs.  I want to spread the lessons I have learned. What started with glasses of inclusivity, has transformed into contacts that I never take off, while I seek to lead everyone to a better life around me.