Leisha Thorne - Background

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24 January 2001 Let me give you some background on who I am and why am I doing this. First the easy part, who am I?  I am 23 years old with a lot of ambition.  I recently graduated from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.  My degree was with Anthropology, primarily in the cultural and physical aspects (i.e. evolution, bones etc.).  How does this tie in with lifeguarding you ask?  Let me explain, but first a little more info... I began my 'lifeguarding career' back in the summer of 1992, at the tender age of fifteen.  My mother enrolled me in a Senior Resuscitation and Bronze Medallion course.  This was back when the Life Saving Society was still The Royal Life Saving Society of Canada.  She wanted me to have this experience so that I could easily find a job because people always need lifeguards.  So I went into the courses with a nonchalant expectation.  What happened when I finished these courses was a new beginning.  I actually enjoyed learning about the steps on how you could save a person from drowning.  This made me want to go further in the program to achieve the goal of getting my National Lifeguard certification.  After I completed my Bronze Cross in 1993, I enrolled in my first of many National Lifeguard courses in 1994.  I learned a lot, got a lifeguarding job (yea, mom) and felt good.  Not only because I had skills to help people, I had confidence and I felt pretty cool.  Who wouldn't?  Especially because Baywatch was now in full swing! Now to connect the Anthropology and lifeguarding.  I've always wanted to visit Australia for as long as I can remember.  It was one of those places you have to cross off your list before you die.  A little morbid but you get the point.  The closer I got to graduating, the more I thought about traveling to Australia.  But then I thought, "wouldn’t it be great if I combined two things I really enjoy, studying cultures and lifeguarding?"  I had heard that the Australian lifeguarding scene was in itself a sub-culture and I wanted to find out for myself if this was true.  I did some research and soon discovered that if I really wanted to learn about this interesting way of life, I would have to experience it for myself. And here we are today. an·thro·pol·o·gy (nthr-pl-j) n. Abbr. anthrop. The scientific study of the origin, the behavior, and the physical, social, and cultural development of human beings. That part of Christian teaching concerning the genesis, nature, and future of human beings: “changing the church's anthropology to include more positive images of women” (Priscilla Hart). All contents © copyright respective owners Concept and experiences by Leisha Thorne Site developed and edited by Ben Rooks Definitions from American Heritage Dictionary. Last Revised Australia Day 26 January 2001