Reaching out. That’s what we’re doing: Reaching out to one city, one group, one school, one life. And that one life is going to make a difference because that is what we’re giving back to our community and our planet. We have reached out to dozens of schools.

Collin Hart (my teammate) and I went to Orange County, CA with our coach Joe Zemaitis to speak at the National Drowning Prevention Symposium.  We had SOO much fun!  I got to meet the president of the Swim for Life Foundation, Johnny Johnson.  He was really nice and I was really glad I got to meet him.  I also got to hear Janet Evans give the Keynote speech.  We invited her to watch us speak but she was already busy.

I was nervous  before I spoke but then once I started talking I relaxed.  It’s a good feeling.  You know, to be relaxed when just a moment before you were tight?  The people there were super nice and treated me as an adult.  I met so many nice people.  The Orange County Fire Department was there and they were very nice too.  A lot of people watched my speech and congratulated me at the end.

Kristin Goffman, Administrator & Founding Board Member of the National Drowning Prevention Alliance, sent a very nice thank you letter.  It was really nice to read the feedback that was submitted by the people that attended my presentation.  Here are a few of my favorites:

“Wonderful!”, “There needs to be more like you”, “Great Session.  Very inspiring!”, “…Kids were charming and a refreshing change in conference presenters.”, “I’m really impressed that these two individuals can get out to communities and help in a way that adults can’t…My hat’s off to both Colin and Emma.”