Coral Wales’ decision to drop out of school in the ninth grade in order to help her family financially by taking a full time restaurant haunted her for years.
The young woman had dreamed of becoming a swimming instructor and lifeguard but her goals were placed on the backburner.
By the age of 18, Coral had an infant daughter and a desire to improve her life. She knew she wanted to finish high school but didn’t know where to turn until she encountered Discovering Choices, an outreach school the partners with the Calgary Youth Justice Society for the ‘In The Lead’ program.
“I was nominated to be a part of this program, thankfully, and I was now with them for almost two years,” said Coral.
In her two years with the program, Coral stormed through her studies.
“Going through all my high school education in under two years, grades ten, eleven and twelve, graduating high school,” said Coral. “Completing all my training, bronze medallion, bronze cross, lifesaving, swim instructor and national life guard.”
Coral now works at the Eau Claire YMCA as a lifeguard and instructor.
Jennifer Barroll, In The Lead’s program director, says Coral should take pride in her accomplishments.
“Coral just quietly kind of meandered her way into our hearts with her brilliance and her quiet confidence,” said Barroll. “In the second semester, we asked her to come back and be a peer mentor.”
Cenovus Energy partners with Calgary Youth Justice making its employees available as mentors to the In The Lead students.Cheryl Janzen was matched with Coral and it didn't take her long to see the young woman’s potential.
“I remember one of the first things she said to me was ‘I really want to be a life guard, that's where I want to go, that's what I want to do’,” recalls Janzen. “Two years later, guess what she's doing, she's a life guard. When she focuses on something, she focuses, she gets it done.”
For all she's doing for herself and her now three year old daughter, Coral Wales is this week’s Inspiring Albertan.
With files from CTV's Darrel Janz
