Lessons didn't end the way I had hoped they would

I just wanted to get this off my chest. I took and passed the Adult Level 1 swimming lessons toward the end of fall 2025. I admit that it felt like a big accomplishment to put myself out there and try to learn to swim as a 31 year old. It was challenging but overall a great experience. I had fun!

There is one thing that's been upsetting to me since it happened though. Each lesson seemed to gradually build on what we'd learned in the previous lesson. For example, we learned to float in the first lesson. During the second lesson, we practiced our floats and then practiced gliding a few meters. Then, during the third lesson, we added a new type of glide or glided a bit further. That's how things progressed. But, during the last lesson, it felt like a huge jump to go from swimming (front crawl and back crawl) maybe 10 meters to being expected to swim 50 meters with only a short break at the 25 meter point. I've never been particularly scared of water, but I felt way out of my depth. I couldn't do the full 50. I felt like I was drowning when I was doing front crawl.

I really wanted to be able to continue because I wanted to practice my dives, somersaults, backstroke, treading water, and learn the proper technique for breast stroke. All of that is covered in the 2nd level. I enjoyed being at the pool each week when I was taking lessons. But the last lesson left me feeling scared, ill-prepared, frustrated, and like a failure. Even though the card I received at the end recommended that I go on to Level 2, I know I'm not good enough. I feel more scared than before my very first lesson of Level 1. I'm not scared to get in a pool again because, even before I took lessons, I would go have fun at the pool. But I had wanted to learn how to swim with proper technique. Now that seems out of reach because I can't go back and repeat Level 1 to gain more confidence, but I'm not good enough to do Level 2, and I can't afford any private lessons to help bridge the gap.

I don't exactly know what I'm hoping to get out of posting this. I think I just needed to share this with someone. If you read this far, thank you.

submitted by /u/FinalPlant6883
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