I had coffee with Jennifer Ortega a few weeks ago. Jenny is a former team member of Ocaquatics who worked from Feb 2014 to 2019 when she left to join the Coast Guard. During her time with Ocaquatics, Jenny served as a front desk team member, a swimming instructor, a DS, and MIT, AM and when she left she was the NW GM. Her time with the Coast Guard is now coming to an end and she wanted to meet to catch up. After our coffee, she sent me this email that I thought I would share as an impact story:
Good afternoon Miren,
It was so great catching up with you the other day! Hearing how Ocaquatics continues to grow and thrive makes me incredibly happy, but even more importantly, I’m grateful to hear that you are doing so well.
I want to sincerely thank you for the incredible impact you’ve had on my life. My time at Ocaquatics was so much more than a job, it was a place where I learned lessons that have stayed with me throughout my life. You believed in me, challenged me to grow, and gave me opportunities that helped build my confidence, leadership skills, work ethic, and ability to serve others.
The foundation I gained at Ocaquatics helped prepare me not only for my military career but also for the person I am today. The values of being service-oriented, safety-focused, and always learning were deeply ingrained in me during my time there and continue to guide me every day in the Coast Guard. Learning to put others first, prioritize safety, work as a team, and constantly seek growth has helped me navigate challenges, serve others effectively, and build meaningful relationships in my personal life.
Thank you for always believing in me, encouraging me, and seeing potential in me even when I didn’t always see it in myself. The positive influence you and the Ocaquatics teams have on my life extends far beyond the years I spent at Ocaquatics, and it’s something I will always be grateful for.
Thank you for taking the time to talk with me. It truly meant so much. I appreciate you and Ocaquatics more than words can express and feel incredibly blessed to have had such an amazing mentor, leader, and role model in my life. Thank you for everything you have made a lasting difference in who I am today! 🩷🩷