Gwinnett Swim League Coach of the Year

2023: Meet Jenna De La Pena

By Traci Sanders

Coach Jenna De La Pena was only eight years of age when her parents signed her up for the Gwinnett Swim League. By the end of that summer, Jenna had fallen in love with the sport. However, she had no idea that she would one day not only end up coaching her own swim team, but winning an award for it!

Jenna’s children became involved in swimming in high school, so she began coaching at Grayson High School in 2020 to better prepare them for the sport. The following summer, Jenna was given the opportunity to coach her own kids at Waterton Waverunners.

When Jenna realized that many talented kids couldn’t afford to swim year-round, she looked into starting a fall middle school team. The following year, Jenna and her husband, Gio, started the Grayson Swim Club at Waterton Waverunners. The program is now headed into its third season of operation, with twenty-five kids enrolled for fall.

Jenna was surprised and honored to be named Gwinnett Swim League Coach of the Year for 2023. She was up against several other nominees who she said are “fantastic coaches who are loved and respected by the communities they serve.” So much of her success, she believes, is due to her partner and husband, making it truly a joint effort. Their own children were super proud of their parents for this award, sending them sweet congratulatory messages.

When asked about her coaching style, Jenna replied, “I just want kids to feel successful. Every kid comes in at their own level, and I want them to focus on their own growth and abilities.” She went on to say that swimming is an interesting sport because, while it does have the team aspect, it also teaches many values on a personal level. The athletes are able to set and achieve personal goals at their own pace without the peer pressure typically associated with traditional team sports.

Coach Jenna and her team celebrate even the smallest of wins. “One second we’re cheering for the kid who just made a state time cut,” she said, “and the next we’re all screaming for the kid who completed a race without stopping for the first time.” For her, the most rewarding thing about coaching is watching kids make new friends and find their go-to sport. She’s proud to offer a place for these kids to all grow and thrive together. “Youth sports is incredibly important for kids,” she added, “because they need places to go where they can be social in a safe environment while also getting exercise to keep their bodies healthy.”

One thing Coach Jenna always teaches her athletes is respect for each other. “There’s always a level of banter between kids,” she said, “especially when it’s co-ed and mixed ages; but I do not tolerate disrespect for one another. There will always be someone who is better than you in sports or anything in life.” Instead of allowing the kids to boast about who is better at certain skills, the De La Penas teach mentorship by encouraging those with advanced skills to reach back and help beginners or those who might be struggling.

When the team becomes discouraged, the De La Penas always remind them that they are loved no matter what. “We make sure they know,” Jenna explained, “there’s always going to be another race where they can try again. Then we get back to work and start training through the mistakes to perform better next time. It’s not the race that defines the athlete, it’s how the athlete handles failure that makes them a winner in our book.”

Above anything else, Jenna measures her success as a coach by seeing if the kids return season after season. She strives to provide a safe space for families to bring their children, to make them feel like they belong. But she says it’s a partnership.

“I do sometimes wish people understood how much home life affects athletes,” she said. “So much of their success comes from their home support. I can make the sets and provide the place, but I can’t monitor their sleep, diet, or overall physical and mental health.”

The De La Penas would eventually like to build an indoor swim facility for the southern side of Gwinnett to service the area with a year-round swim program. “The Grayson/Loganville area has really needed a proper indoor facility for the high schools to use for some time,” Jenna said. “We’d love to be a part of creating that for the kids in this community. We could offer lessons for all ages, competitive teams, and even physical therapies.”

Coach Jenna believes that swimming is a life skill, and when pools are not affordable or accessible, many kids and even some adults are at risk. “Kids can learn water safety skills at an early age that can help prevent future drowning incidents,” she shared. “It’s never too late to learn!” always ask yourself, is this something that will make any difference ten years from now?

Congrats again to Gwinnett Swim League Coach of the Year 2023, Coach Jenna De La Pena.

More information at https://www.gwinnettswimleague.com/.

Second, we must limit social media time. Social media platforms are fantastic for sharing information but are a breeding ground for FOMO. Such platforms make it easy to focus on things that don’t matter and where we can waste a lot of time. They are also a place where we can get caught up in comparing our lives with other’s lives. So, I recommend we take control of our digital life by setting specific times to check our accounts. Reducing our screen time helps alleviate FOMO and improves our overall mental well-being. I say that being “constantly connected” will drain the life out of all of us. So be purposeful, deliberate, and intentional with your time.

Third, we must cultivate mindfulness in our lives. Mindfulness is the practice of being fully present in the moment. So, we must engage in activities encouraging mindfulness, such as meditation, yoga, prayer, or simply walking in nature. These practices can help us appreciate the beauty of the present and reduce the anxiety associated with FOMO.

Fourth, we should focus on quality over quantity. Remember that the quality of our experiences matters more than the quantity. So, my advice is instead of trying to attend every event or accept every invitation, focus on the activities and relationships that bring genuine joy and fulfillment to our lives. In addition, we must live with gratitude and contentment. We must shift our mindset from scarcity to abundance by practicing gratitude. I suggest we make a daily habit of listing the things we are thankful for. This will help us remember how much we have to be thankful for and decrease feelings of FOMO.

Finally, it is important to disconnect to reconnect. We should take occasional digital detoxes to fully reconnect with the real world and the people around us. Engage in meaningful conversations, enjoy face-to-face interactions, and savor the moments from which technology often distracts us.

The fear of missing out is a common modern-day struggle, but it doesn’t have to control our lives. By defining our priorities, limiting screen time, practicing mindfulness, and embracing gratitude, we can learn to appreciate the present moment and live a more fulfilling life. Remember, life is happening right now, and it’s beautiful in its own unique way. Life is a present. Life is the present. Life is being present.

Thank you as always for your support as we work to make a difference in lives. And also, and as always…thank you for continuing with me on the journey of my town, your town, OUR TOWN!

Travel Tales: Visit Saudia Arabia?

By Pam Walker

Every August, I attend one of the largest travel shows on earth in Las Vegas.

Vegas is not my favorite place to be during August, but in reality, I never am outside the meeting rooms in the Bellagio and Aria hotels. This year was no different. Aside from 3,000 travel advisors from all over the world, there are representatives from government tourist offices, hotels, and attractions, as well as folks from all the major cruise lines. Every year they tell us the latest and greatest news of upcoming events and products.

One such player “new to the game” is the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It was only in 2019 that the Saudi Minister of Interior and Foreign Affairs issued the first tourist visas to visit the Kingdom. It is now the second biggest tourist destination in the Middle East. Obviously, not many US citizens traveled there during the Pandemic, but now the push is on to receive visitors from all over the world.

I have long been fascinated with the history of the Middle East. Not only does it encompass many religions, but there is an amazing network of Nabatean ruins dating from the 3rd Century BC. It wasn’t until the Roman Empire annexed it in AD 106 that the power of this ancient culture ceased to exist. They carved homes and temples into the sandstone, which can be seen today. The most famous ruin to date is Petra in Jordan.

But now there is the Alula area in Saudi! Archaeologists have just started excavating various places in the Saudi desert, such as the ancient town of Hegra and the ancient oasis in the midst of this desert wasteland. It is a vast area filled with history and rare rock forms. It is so unique that there are now five deluxe hotel companies that have built hotels there, all blending in with the desert architecture.

In all the Saudi government has spent over $15 billion in structuring this fantastic place, and I, for one, have to go and see the things that they have done. Yes, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is still a conservative Muslim country, but they are letting down their barriers as they want to share their history with the world.

Pam Walker is a Virtuoso Travel Advisor. More information at pam@ walkeradventures.com

*Nanny’s Apple Cake

Ingredients:

2 eggs

1 1/4 cup vegetable oil

3 cups all-purpose flour

3 cups chopped apples

1 cups sugar

1 cup brown sugar

2 tsp vanilla flavoring

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp baking soda

1 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Beat eggs, add sugar, vanilla flavoring, and oil. Beat three minutes

Mix all dry ingredients together

Mix ingredients together -- the dry and the egg, sugar, and oil mixture

Add the chopped apples, then add chopped pecans - mix all ingredients thoroughly

Pour into a greased Bundt pan or cake pan

Bake at 350 degrees for one hour and 15 minutes or until cooked through

Top with a dusting of powdered sugar

Serve topped with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream they want. We then bring their vision to life with our design...all the while thinking how we can best give their design maximum impact to get their message to their customers.”

“Even a simple sign someone asks for gets the same treatment as a ten thousand dollar sign project,” added Kareen. “We love to make our customers look great!”

When FASTSIGNS of Snellville is not busy creating the perfect visual representation for their clients, they can often be found giving back to the Snellville community and beyond. They are members of the Gwinnett Chamber and the Snellville Tourism and Trade. They also have two dedicated Outside Sales Professionals, Robert and Dianne, who are always out in the community either prospecting or attending ribbon cuttings and networking events. In addition to these connections, FASTSIGNS of Snellville has maintained a ten year relationship with their friends at Special Kneads and Treats in Lawrenceville, and a nine year relationship with the Southeast Gwinnett Cooperative Ministry, and has provided either donated or discounted signage for these organizations.

For Edward and Kareen and the rest of their team, the number one goal is excellent customer service. They make it a priority to pick up the phone any time a customer calls and to turn a project around as quickly as possible. In fact, FASTSIGNS of Snellville has never missed a deadline in the ten years they have been in operation.

“Customer service is our number one strength, followed by expertise,” said Edward. “We love doing what we do and in our ten years in business we are so happy to have exceeded our customers’ expectations every step on the way.”

If you need a custom visual aid to help your business make itself known, you have come to the right place. Get in touch with FASTSIGNS of Snellville for all of your signage dreams to come true.

More information at www.fastsigns.com/snellville-ga, or (678) 3955559