Swimming with students: Harrison enjoys life beyond water's edge

by Jennifer Conlee/feature editor

When students come to pursue an education at South Plains College, they are usually required to take two physical education activity courses to receive their associate’s degree.  Many students automatically enroll in classes such as basketball, volleyball, track, or other sports that they became familiar with in high school.

However, at SPC there is another option, thanks to the Olympic-size swimming pool on campus.

For the past four years, Mike Harrison has been the swimming and water aerobics instructor at SPC.

He began swimming while he was a student at Texas Tech University.

 “After changing several majors, I finally graduated with a degree in physical education, and a minor in recreation,” Harrison said.

Though he didn’t swim much as a child, Harrison has always loved swimming.

 “I was a springboard diver for Tech,” said Harrison.  “Our practices were held at the same times as the swim team, so I learned many techniques from watching them.”

When Harrison graduated from Tech, he got a job working as a lifeguard for Lubbock.  For eight years, “I worked my way up through the ranks,” said Harrison. 

During those eight years, Harrison worked as the aquatic director in charge of five city pools, as a community center director, and as an athletic director who scheduled 350 softball teams for games.

He then went on to be a physical activities director in charge of pool activities and swimming lessons at the Lubbock YMCA.  He also coached a swim team while there. 

After the YMCA closed, he moved to Borger, where he coached swimming and intramurals.

“They had just opened their new pool, and I started it up for them,” Harrison said.

During the two years spent working in Borger, Harrison used the time to obtain a Master’s degree in physical education at West Texas State University in Canyon.

At the end of his time in Borger, a job opened at Western Texas College in Snyder.

“I was there for 17 years, and I did everything in the pool,” said Harrison. “I taught water aerobics, swimming, and life guarding.”

Four years ago, Harrison got the teaching position at SPC. 

“I was happy to come back here,” he said. “I grew up in Lubbock, and I liked being closer to my hometown.”

Harrison said he loves his job. 

“I like that I get to work with all ages,” he said.  “I teach seniors, college students, and I like working with the little ones as well, doing the children’s swim lessons.”

Harrison offers three different courses in the Natatorium. He instructs life guarding for students who want to obtain their certification, and some of the students even get jobs at the pool during the free swim hours.

He also offers beginning and advanced swimming and water aerobics, which also fulfill a student’s physical education requirement.  In the swimming classes, Harrison teaches the basics of swimming, including the basic strokes and breathing, and he includes games. 

Aerobics is a low-impact cardio-focused hour, during which students learn the basic aerobics without the impact of land.  It is a great course for students with arthritis or joint problems, and it is also good for those who don’t like sports that involve running.

Harrison also opens the pool for lap swim from noon to 1 p.m. every day, and for free swim.  Free swim is from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Swimming is free to all students with their student ID.

Harrison also enjoys teaching golf, and occasionally instructing intramurals, raquetball, and weight lifting.  He says he wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

“I like to think the best thing about it [the job] is seeing all the smiles of the people in the water having fun,” Harrison said.  “Adults are just as excited as little kids when they learn to swim.  I’ve tried other things, but I always come back to the pool.”