Piers Park for me has not just been a job, but a part of my life. I stared as a student back when I was only ten, and now I’m eighteen. That’s eight whole years at Piers Park. I rose through the ranks from a future leader to senior instructor. Every year had its own unique challenges, but with great reward. Some kids could give you a hard time and some were perfect. Sailing brings out the best of a child, no matter how bad of day. I’m so happy to be an instructor at Piers Park, and to give back to the community.
The goal of Piers Park is to give kids who would not be able to sail the opportunity. So it’s my job to make sure they get a valued education out of it. I teach them how to sail and use the boat. But that’s not just it, I teach them life lessons such as manners and problem solving. It’s not just about sailing at PPSC, the lessons help them to become a better person on and
off the water. I also transfer these goals to Camp Harbor View. All kids deserve a chance to sail.
Sailing brings out the best in you, no matter how bad your day is going. You can never have a bad day on the water — because it’s much worse on land! Sailing relaxes you and lets you lose the stress of everyday life. For that time, it’s just you in the boat, no annoying engine sound. It’s all natural, no fossil fuel needed. It brings you closer to nature and makes you relaxed. At the end of each day, I always hear kids say how relaxed they are. The positives of sailing are instrumental.
My favorite parts of the program are being on the water and making sure the kids have a good time. It is always the best to make a kid smile. This is Eric (featured in photo) pointing and having fun. You feel good about yourself. That kid was once a stranger, but is now looking up to you. The power of happiness is incredible. I want to make my kids always feel excited for the next day on the water. My favorite part is that kids look up to you as not only an instructor, but a mentor. It is my job to change people’s lives!
PPSC has showed me my passion for the water. As a little kid, I never liked going on boats. I remember the first day of camp I was horrified, but my instructors made me feel safe and I started to enjoy the water. Soon I was begging my parents to go. Piers park made me see my goals very clearly. I decided to go to Maine mainly to carry out my dream on the water. I used work to to guide my life. I can never thank this place enough. I’m excited to know what I want to do with my life. My goals for the future are to be working on the water and I know I’m doing everything I can to complete that goal and that is thanks to Piers Park Sailing Center.
–Garrett Ruszkowski
