AUSTIN, Texas -- Summer could be a few months away, but some high school students were already getting ready for that summer job, but they must learn how to swim.
Claudia Soriano took her first swimming lesson in stride or, rather, strokes.
"It was really fun, it was really fun because they help us a lot," she said.
Soriano was one of several teens taking part in ATX Swim. The YMCA, along with Austin ISD and the City of Austin, created the program to provide free swimming lessons.
"I really don't know how to swim, that's the one part why I wanted to do this program because I really wanted to learn how to swim," said Soriano.
But that's not all, it’s also a way to help address the lifeguard shortage.
"We recognize the need across the city and we wanted to find a creative way to find a solution for that," said YMCA of Austin’s Sean Doles.
The City of Austin needs 700 lifeguards this summer. Organizers hope that once students completed the twelve week program, they'll join the ranks.
"It goes from non-swimmers to the swim team then to the lifeguard classes. Then, me seeing them go through the lifeguard training and work for us in the City of Austin, it's a joy," said Travis Lutz, of Austin Parks and Recreation.
While mastering proper swimming technique could get you places, interview and application skills can take you further, which the program also provides.
"Not only are these kids improving their swimming skills, they're learning valuable life skills, they're learning valuable job skills that could gain them employment," said Doles.
The program is offered through Eastside Memorial and Reagan High Schools. Students also earn PE credit once they complete it