When I was 16 I was on a school trip touring Europe. One of the stops was in Biarritz & we all went to swim in the ocean. I was standing in maybe knee high water but next thing I know I got pulled by a rip current & I couldn’t feel the sand anymore. I didn’t know any better at the time so I tried swimming towards the shore instead of parallel. I could see that I was going further & further away.

My teacher chaperone didn’t figure out what was happening until she noticed 3 of us were a lot further out than what would be safe. I could feel my body exhausting itself just trying to stay afloat at this point. My mind went blank white. Although the waves sounds were crashing in my ear, it was eerily quiet. I thought “I’d this how I’ll die?” I kept repeating to myself “you’re gonna be okay.” Out of nowhere one of the other kids showed up and tried to pull me toward shore. He was a junior lifeguard at our high school and risked his own life to save me. I told him to leave me because I knew I’d drag him down.

Luckily a surfer nearby saw us and came to our rescue. The second I felt that surfboard I held on so tight. My whole body was ready to give up at that point.