On Wednesday March 6th I had my second surfing lesson and our class on CPR.

Surfing was okay; the first half of the lesson I was struggling to stand up on a surfboard, which was just like every other lesson I’ve taken before, including Surfing here. But, on the advice of one of my instructors, I upsized my surfboard and it worked! Not only was it much easier to ride the waves as control my board, but I was able to stand up for the first three times! I was so happy to be able to finally do this after every other attempt to be taught ending in a sad failure. Now that I know that it was the size of the surfboard that was important, it will be a reminder to me that I need to have the right equipment along with the right attitude before I can go surfing. And that rule can be applied to almost anything I will do.

CPR was more a lesson on DRSABCDD (Danger, Response, Send for help, Airways, Breathing, CPR, Defibrillation & Deadly bleeds) and also what to do in situations of vomiting, mild and severe choking and drowning.

The day was also difficult in that along with being student leader, my expo team was on duty. So after breakfast, I was expected to be in the kitchen washing dishes then get a wetsuit for surfing and clean the boys’ bathroom while I created the morning meeting minutes. Crazy! But, not much you could do about it. I can’t be in three places at once…

-Daniel, Mullauna College