TEEN SCENE
BY LORI DRAZ, CARINA MULLER AND CONOR DOOGAN
Welcome to Teen Scene. Each month,
our young authors write, in their own voice,
stories that will educate and inform fellow
students and parents. If you are a teen who
would like to write your story, contact The
Journal. We’ll help you polish it up, so
don’t worry, let’s just get to sharing.
This month’s Teen Scene welcomes
old Carina Muller, a rising junior from
Holmdel who is home schooled, and
junior at Christian Brothers Academy.
Summer is going full steam ahead, and
the beaches are packed again. While
so many kids are off on vacations or
in summer camps, there is a team of
swimmers safe through their service
as lifeguards. The huge responsibility
of saving a life is overwhelming for
most, yet so many young men and
women answer the call, earning
Here are Carina and Conor’s stories.
Carina Muller
I grew up swimming with the Red Bank YMCA, so lifeguarding seemed
Guard program. I thought it would be a great way to meet new people and
had ended, I knew this was an operation I wanted to be a part of. What I love
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how rough the ocean can be and gaining a respect for the water can save
their lives and the lives of others.
While these programs helped me prepare for the medical and technical
aspects of the job, and club swimming helped me with the physical, noth-
unrealistic spins on the job, but in the end, lifeguards are dealing with life
or death. I often think when I am sitting alone that I am truly responsible for
so many people's lives. Although this is terrifying, it is also the time when all
you work with and good communication is crucial in this type of job.
What I love most about this job is knowing that no one really knows
40 AUGUST 2021 | TheJournalNJ.com
or cares about the struggles in my life. All they
know is that I am someone who wants to help.
They may never really know me, yet just seeing
literally trust me with their lives. When it happens,
nothing feels more gratifying than having a
kid come up and saying thank you for looking out
for them.
Another thing is that, thanks to this job, I and
many other lifeguards have decided to go into the
I think, deep down, everyone wants to be needed
and to make a difference. Lifeguarding might not
your strengths, I believe anyone can make a huge
impact on the community and themself.
Conor Doogan
it’s also a love for the ocean. My family and I have been
members of Surfrider Beach Club ever since I was born
Ocean Rescue announced the program was going to be held at Surfrider
Beach Club. We always there anyway, so my parents signed up me and my
siblings for four weeks of camp. It was such a blast that I did it again in
I signed up on a whim, thinking SBJG would be a fun way to make new
friends and give me a change of pace during my summer. I had no idea that
joining would be the start of life-long friendships and valuable lessons.
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came a lifeguard at Sea Bright. It is a wonderful job, but there is a lot of
mental stress knowing that every day, I have people’s lives in my hands. It
is an immeasurable responsibility, but knowing that every single lifeguard
on staff will always have your back makes you feel invincible.
Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, and this job has
taught me that there is something for everyone, no matter what. During
help keep the public safe. After two and a half summers with Sea Bright
Ocean Rescue, I can undoubtedly say our team motto would be to never
Lifeguarding for Sea Bright has truly been one of the most humbling
precious and cannot be taken for granted. The way each and every one of
aspect of Sea Bright Ocean Rescue.
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