Tiffini Owens sliced into the deep end of the pool at Whitney Young Magnet High School on Saturday morning, and after several seconds at the bottom, came up empty-handed.
The 15-pound brick-shaped weight remained down there.
She dived again. And again.
“It’s hard,” she said after finally retrieving the weight on her fourth try. “I just took four deep breaths, and pushed up hard with my feet on the floor.”
Owens, 17, was among about 225 people who applied Saturday to be lifeguards this summer with the Chicago Park District. Two earlier tryouts brought a total of about 325 applicants, and one more session is scheduled for May 19.
In all, about 800 lifeguards will be needed this year for 26 miles of lakefront beaches, 51 outdoor pools, 26 indoor pools and the 15 school pools. Working 40 hours per week, the lifeguards earn a tidy wage for a summer job: $11.57 per hour.
Besides the water skills that were tested Saturday at the Near West Side school, applicants were interviewed by Park District staff, took eye tests and submitted to drug testing.
Owens didn’t pass all of her tests. She couldn’t quite get the hang of towing a struggling swimmer. But she’ll be back.
“I’m not giving up,” she said.
“Some of the kids you work extra hard with are the ones who become really good workers,” said Janet McDonough, the district’s beach and pool manager.
Besides the good wage, work as a lifeguard teaches people responsibility, said McDonough, who started as a Park District lifeguard herself in 1972.
“A job like this helps establish self-esteem,” McDonough said. “It gives kids an opportunity to work where they have huge responsibility. It teaches them self-discipline.”
Applicants also must pass the American Red Cross lifeguard training program before they can begin work at the city’s beaches and pools. They must be 16 years old by July 1 and live in Chicago.
“We’re looking for kids that can work with people,” McDonough said. “We’re looking for kids with a responsible attitude — because it requires great attentiveness to their job duties. We look for kids who know this is a physically demanding position and are willing to accept that part of the job.”
Deron Smith, 16, thinks he has what it takes.
“I like to swim,” he said. “I think it’s cool. It’s an important job, saving people’s lives.”
If he gets the job, he said, it might be scary jumping into the water to save someone from drowning.
“All of a sudden you’d be thinking about what you’re doing,” he said. “But I’d be proud of myself.”
The final testing date is May 19 at Whitney Young, 211 S. Laflin St. Candidates can download an application from the district Web site at www.chicago parkdistrict.com, by clicking on “Work @ CPD.”
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jjlong@tribune.com
