08/08/2026
After a lot of thought and with a very full heart, I wanted to share that I will no longer be the manager of the Mansfield Pool.
I just want to take a moment to say how extremely grateful I am to have had the opportunity to serve as the Mansfield Pool Manager for the past decade. I really can’t believe I can say that… a DECADE! Wow, where does the time go?
What I originally thought would just be a summer job turned into so much more than I ever could have imagined. Over the years, I have had the privilege of meeting so many amazing people and becoming part of so many families’ summer memories. From the families who come to the pool every summer, to the kiddos I’ve had the chance to teach swim lessons, to all the kids who came to the pool day after day and eventually became what we lovingly called our “pool rats.” 😂 I have truly loved every relationship and connection I’ve made along the way.
But one of the biggest things that will always stick with me is getting to work with all of my lifeguard kiddos over the years. I have teased so many of them that I was their “pool mom,” and honestly, I think it’s pretty fitting. As a parent, you want to do your very best, but you’re also learning as you go. That’s exactly how I felt as a manager. I wanted to do my best for my guards, teach them, support them, hold them accountable, and hopefully help them grow—not just as lifeguards, but as people.
To all of my first-year guards… man, haven’t we all grown? We’ve had some tough times, but honestly, I wouldn’t trade any of it. Those hard moments taught us, challenged us, and helped us all become stronger.
And to my guards now… I am going to miss you more than you know. We have made so many memories together. We have laughed, cried, worked hard, probably stressed a little, and maybe argued a little too. 😂😉 But through it all, I hope you always know how much I care about each of you. I will always be cheering you on, and no matter where life takes you, I hope you know that I am always here for you.
And to the Mansfield community, thank you. Thank you for trusting me with your children, your families, and your summers. Thank you for supporting the pool, for showing up year after year, and for allowing me to be a small part of so many memories. Thank you for the conversations, the laughs, the encouragement, and even the challenges that helped me grow along the way. The pool has been so much more than a job to me—it has been a place where I have built friendships, watched kids grow up, and made memories that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.
Walking away from something that has been such a big part of my life for the past ten years is definitely bittersweet. There are so many people and so many memories that I will miss, but I am also incredibly thankful that I got to experience it all.
Thank you, Mansfield Pool, for giving me ten unforgettable summers. Thank you to every family, every kiddo, every lifeguard, and every person who has been a part of this chapter of my life.
My heart is so full of gratitude.
Here’s to the next chapter. ❤️
And just because I won’t be the pool manager anymore doesn’t mean I’m going far. I’ll always be cheering on my pool family.
Much love,
Rashawnda
