Today we’d like to introduce you to Aaron Lamar.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I grew up on the east side of Detroit, Michigan, as the second oldest of six children. My mom was a stay-at-home mother, and my father worked for the Greyhound Bus Company as a bus driver, which allowed my family to travel. My family loved the water, although none of us knew how to swim, with the exception of my mom and dad. Whenever we traveled, we would ask my dad to book hotels with swimming pools so we could enjoy the water.
During one vacation, my brothers, sisters, and I, ranging in age from 2 to 9, were playing in one of the hotel pools while my mom and cousin sat fully dressed on the side, keeping an eye on us. My baby sister was playing with a water toy that had gotten away from her and floated into the deep end of the pool. She asked me if I could get it for her. Being the big brother, I didn’t even give it a second thought. I began making my way toward the toy, but as I got closer, I started going under the water. My mom saw me struggling and immediately jumped into the pool, pulling me up and bringing me safely to the side.
At the time, I wasn’t scared, but I was 100% embarrassed. Despite that experience, my love for the water never went away. I asked my mom if we could learn how to swim, and I believe she fully agreed with the idea. Not long after, she enrolled us in swim lessons at the Eastside YMCA, where I would meet the first person who helped me learn the life-saving skill of swimming. Her name was Coach Vicky.
Over the next few months, Coach Vicky would not only teach me how to swim, but she would also convince my mom to allow my younger brother Quentin and me to join the swim team. That’s where I began to excel in the sport. Coach Vicky played an important role in my development as a swimmer. She challenged me to improve, encouraged me to push through difficult moments, and helped me recognize my potential. She was more than just a swim instructor; she was someone who believed in me and helped build my confidence in the water. Looking back, her influence was one of the first experiences that showed me how important a coach can be in a young person’s life.
Unfortunately, times were hard. With my parents raising six children on one income, we eventually had to give up swimming. I was 11 years old, and it devastated me. At that age, I didn’t know if I would ever return to the sport. Swimming had become such an important part of my life, and having to walk away was difficult. One thing my mom made sure I understood, however, was that I would have the opportunity to swim again in the future. Although I didn’t know when that would happen, her words gave me something to look forward to.
Fast-forward four years, and I enrolled at Murray Wright High School, where I was able to join the swim team. I competed for three years, and during that time, I met my future business partner, Javon Waters, who attended Denby High School.
Javon was my biggest rival in the pool. Whenever he came to race, I knew I had to bring my very best. Our races almost always ended in close finishes, and competing against him pushed me to become a better swimmer. He was someone I knew I had to prepare for, and our rivalry created a level of competition that challenged both of us. At the time, I never imagined that the person I was competing against would eventually become someone I would build a business with.
After high school, I continued pursuing my passion for swimming by working as a lifeguard, swim instructor, and coach for club and high school swim teams. In 2015, I began working for the City of Detroit at the Coleman A. Young Recreation Center as a lifeguard and swim coach.
In 2019, I ran into Javon again, who was also working for the city at the Adams-Butzel Recreation Center, coaching its swim team. Although we had spent years competing against one another, our relationship began to change that day. We had a conversation about the state of swimming in Detroit and how much swimming opportunities for youth had declined compared to when we were competing.
As we talked, we reflected on our own experiences growing up in the sport and the opportunities we had been fortunate enough to receive. We recognized that many young people in the city were not getting the same opportunities to learn how to swim, compete, or become involved in aquatics. That conversation made us realize that the problem was bigger than just the decline of competitive swimming. It was also about the lack of access to quality swimming programs and water safety education.
During that conversation, we jokingly, but seriously, suggested that we start our own swim program. What began as an idea between two former rivals quickly became something we both recognized had the potential to make a difference.
About a year later, we reconnected and decided it was time to act on that idea. In 2020, we started Detroit All Star Aquatics, a competitive club team under USA Swimming. We began our first season with approximately 15 to 20 registered swimmers.
After a year, we started focusing on growing the program while also addressing some underlying issues that were severely affecting our community. We recognized that the lack of quality water safety and learn-to-swim programs, along with limited youth engagement, was contributing to a decrease in the number of young people learning the life-saving skill of swimming. It was also affecting the number of individuals developing the skills and interest needed to become lifeguards.
We realized that addressing these issues would require more than just a competitive swim team. Our community needed greater access to water safety education, learn-to-swim opportunities, and programs that could introduce young people to the many possibilities within aquatics.
To help combat these problems, we started AquaLyfe Swim School in 2021. Our focus was to create a program that emphasized water safety while incorporating learn-to-swim instruction, an introduction to basic lifeguarding skills, and fun. We wanted to create an environment where children could develop confidence in the water, learn essential life-saving skills, and discover opportunities they may not have otherwise had access to.
Looking back, my journey into swimming began with a childhood experience that could have ended very differently. What started as a love for the water eventually became a passion, a career, and an opportunity to make a difference in my community. The lessons I learned from my family, Coach Vicky, my experiences as a competitive swimmer, and even my rivalry with Javon all played a role in shaping the person I am today.
The same sport that brought Javon and me together as competitors eventually brought us together as business partners with a shared vision. Today, through AquaLyfe Swim School, I have the opportunity to help other children learn the same life-saving skill that changed my life. What began as a childhood love for swimming has become a mission to provide opportunities, promote water safety, and make a lasting impact on the community that helped shape me.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The journey has definitely been full of ups and downs. Although I had been teaching swimming lessons since I was 17 and coaching since I was 22, I had never owned or operated my own business. I understood the sport and had years of experience working with swimmers, but learning what it takes to run a successful business was a completely different challenge. I had to learn on the fly, navigate the business side of things, and figure out how to turn my passion for swimming into a sustainable organization. It has been a steep uphill climb, and there have been plenty of moments where I had to step outside of my comfort zone and learn through experience.
One of our biggest challenges has been finding pool space in an environment where swimming pools are scarce. Having access to a pool is essential to what we do, but finding facilities that are available, affordable, and willing to partner with us has not always been easy. There have been times when pool maintenance, closures, and other facility issues have disrupted our programs and forced us to adjust our plans. As a business, those challenges affect not only our ability to provide lessons but also our relationships with families, our staff, and our community partners.
Another challenge has been building a program that addresses the needs of our community while also creating opportunities for growth. We want to provide quality swimming lessons and water safety education, but we also want to develop future lifeguards, swim instructors, and competitive swimmers. Balancing those goals while managing the financial and operational responsibilities of a business has been a learning experience.
Despite the challenges, I have learned that being an entrepreneur requires patience, adaptability, and the willingness to keep moving forward when things don’t go as planned. Every obstacle has taught me something valuable about leadership, business, and the importance of building strong relationships. The journey has not been easy, but it has strengthened my commitment to AquaLyfe and the mission behind it. **I know the work we are doing is important, and that is what keeps me motivated to continue pushing forward.**
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
AquaLyfe Swim School is a swim education and water safety organization based in Metro Detroit. We specialize in providing quality swim lessons, water safety education, and aquatic programming for children and adults. Our goal is to teach swimming as a life-saving skill rather than just a sport. We believe everyone deserves the opportunity to learn how to swim, regardless of their background or financial circumstances.
Through AquaLyfe, we offer youth and adult swim lessons, adaptive aquatics, and programs that introduce young people to basic lifeguarding skills and future opportunities within the aquatics industry. We also work with schools, community organizations, and other partners to help expand access to swimming and water safety education throughout the Detroit area. One of the things we are most passionate about is creating opportunities for young people to develop confidence in the water while learning skills that could potentially save their lives.
What sets AquaLyfe apart is our personal connection to the work we do. I grew up on the east side of Detroit, and swimming played a major role in my life. I understand firsthand how important access to swimming opportunities can be, but I also recognize that not every child has the same access to pools, instructors, or quality programs. Our mission comes from recognizing those challenges and wanting to help change that reality for the next generation.
I am especially proud of the impact we have made through our partnerships and community programs. Working with organizations like the Huron-Clinton Metroparks and other community partners has allowed us to provide free swimming lessons and water safety education to children who might not otherwise have the opportunity. Seeing children gain confidence, overcome their fears, and develop swimming skills is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do. I am also proud that we are creating opportunities for young people to become swim instructors, lifeguards, and future leaders in the aquatics industry.
Another thing that makes AquaLyfe special is that we are not just focused on teaching swimming. We want to help rebuild a strong swimming culture in Detroit. We want children to have the opportunity to learn, compete, and develop a lifelong relationship with the water. We also want to help address the shortage of skilled swimmers and qualified aquatic professionals by introducing young people to those opportunities early in their lives.
Ultimately, what sets us apart is our commitment to combining water safety, education, community engagement, and opportunity. We understand that learning to swim can be life-changing, and we want AquaLyfe to be a place where families feel supported, children feel encouraged, and communities have access to programs that make a lasting difference. I am most proud of knowing that the work we do has the potential to save lives while creating opportunities for the next generation.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
As a nonprofit organization, AquaLyfe Swim School welcomes opportunities to collaborate with individuals, businesses, schools, and community organizations that share our mission of promoting water safety and expanding access to swimming education. There are many ways people can get involved and help us make a difference in our community.
We are always grateful for donations and financial support, which help us provide swim lessons to underserved students, purchase swimsuits and swimming equipment, support our programs, and cover other essential expenses, including marketing and outreach. Every contribution helps us reach more children and create opportunities for them to learn the life-saving skill of swimming.
We also welcome volunteers who are interested in helping with our various programs, community events, and water safety initiatives. Whether you are interested in volunteering your time, supporting our programs, or exploring a potential partnership, we would love to connect with you.
Our goal is to build strong relationships with people and organizations that believe in making swimming and water safety accessible to everyone. If you are interested in working with us, collaborating on a program, volunteering, or making a donation, please reach out to us at **aqualyfe2020@gmail.com**.
Together, we can help create more opportunities for children and families to learn how to swim, become safer around the water, and develop skills that can last a lifetime.
Contact Info:
- Email: aqualyfe2020@gmail.com
- Instagram: Aqualyfeswimschool and DASA_313
- Facebook: AquaLyfe Swim School and Detroit All Star Aquatics
