At just 16, Maddy is making waves both in and out of the pool. By day she’s studying to become an actor, and in the evenings she guides young learners to swim.
But Maddy’s part-time job as a swimming teacher isn’t just about earning extra money; it’s a strategic step towards pursuing her acting dreams, where she envisions taking centre stage. Maddy explains:
“Teaching swimming is performative! The poolside becomes my stage, and my learners and their parents are my audience.
“I’ve just completed my GCSEs and am now studying Applied Theatre at North Kent College in Tonbridge, as well as auditioning for theatrical agents. On top of this, in the summer holidays I completed my Level Two Swimming Teacher Qualification, officially becoming a certified swimming teacher.
“I gained my Level One qualification just after I turned 16 in November 2023 and have been assisting with swimming lessons at Tonbridge Swimming Pool on Mondays and Wednesdays after school. Now I’m fully qualified I can lead classes myself. I’ve secured work at two swimming pools across three days, and I’m really excited to get started. I need a job where I feel valued and so I didn’t want to work in a shop. I’m very sociable and love interacting with people, and swimming teaching lets me talk a lot while making a difference to people’s lives.”
Maddy, who is hard of hearing and wears two hearing aids, adds:
“I enjoy designing lesson plans and I’ve found that, because I’m hard of hearing and take my hearing aids out during lessons, I give a lot of individual attention to my pupils. I come down to their level so I can hear them better, which also enhances their engagement and learning. Since I love performing, the poolside feels like another place where I can perform and connect with others. I help pupils learn to swim through play, often making up stories and characters to make the lessons more fun.
“Teaching swimming is so rewarding. It’s amazing to watch the children grow, mature and become confident in the water. I always remind my pupils, especially during the warmer months, to be safe at beaches, look for the lifeguards, and always be aware of the safety flags. It’s humbling to know that I’m teaching them a life-saving skill.
“My ultimate dream is to star in movies or on television, but I still want to keep my side hustle going! Who knows, maybe I’ll even teach swimming in Hollywood one day!”