Mr. Aguilar has been one of my quiet yet strongest supporters through my years. After swimming with his son, Rudy, through elementary school, middle school, high school, and college, our families have built a long lasting, supportive, and loving relationship.

Many times in my life while swimming with Rudy, I have experienced failure to some of the highest degrees. During my sophomore year of high school, I had an unfortunate event where I was struck over the head by a metal pole during a swim race. Rudy’s dad brought me advice from a different perspective: the perspective from a distant, observant supporter. Advice that drove me to come back and cheer for my teammates, friends, and family for the duration of the swim meet. He taught me there to appreciate our failures, and that God had placed it there for a reason. I chose to believe that the failure had a higher purpose and was there to teach me something: this is something I learned from Mr. Aguilar first, and then God second.

After swimming at another meet and suffering several disqualifications in my races, I was in a very dark place, convinced through anger and sadness that I was not a competent swimmer. Mr. Aguilar came to me and once again taught me that I could wallow in pity, convict myself with my failure, or rise to learn and see the failure as something of an educator. He explained to me that God’s path, while not the easy path, certainly leads us to believe that everything that He places in front of us is meant to bring us to a higher purpose. A purpose where we love others, and love the things that happen to us, so that we can be closer to God.

Throughout swimming on the same collegiate team as Rudy, Mr. Aguilar’s son, I fostered a great relationship with Rudy. We had a similar outlook on life: to love it for what it was and take everything that happens in it as a way to learn. Therefore, Rudy and I foster such a great friendship, and with Mr. Aguilar’s guidance through the years, we continue to learn and foster our friendship as our lives change.

While I have participated in psychological therapy to improve my mental health, I can certainly attribute some of my happiness to Mr. Aguilar - He has taught me a lot about the flow of life, and how to ride that flow, through the highs and the lows.

 

Ryan Geheb

http://linkedin.com/in/ryan-geheb-064585197

Former Student Athlete

State & Regional Champion.

D1 – Horizon League Individual Champion 100 Yard Breaststroke.

D1 – Horizon League 5 Times Gold Medal in multiple Relays.