Hi! I’m Amy Ames, and I’ve been passionate about water safety for as long as I can remember.

Growing up, my dad was a lifeguard who instilled a deep awareness of water safety in us from a young age. I don’t even remember learning how to swim—it’s just something I’ve always known how to do. Surrounded by fellow lifeguards and swim team friends, I never realized that swimming could be a challenge for others. That changed when I began teaching swim lessons.

Suddenly, my schedule was full of parents desperate for their children to gain skills in the water. That experience opened my eyes to the tremendous need for competent and confident swimmers—especially among young children. I continued teaching throughout college while earning my dual license in general and special education.

A few years earlier, on a whim, I had applied to be a flight attendant for Southwest Airlines. I didn’t think much of it—until two years later, in the middle of college, I got the call. They wanted me to interview in Oakland the following week. I flew out, was offered the job on the spot, and asked my professors to let me take finals early so I could attend the five-week training in Dallas. I thought that training was tough… little did I know ISR would later bring a whole new level of challenge!

My first year at Southwest, I completed my degree online and chose to fly full-time, trading in the classroom for the skies. I traveled as much as I could while my husband pursued his law degree. We got married in 2018, and our first daughter was born in 2021. That’s when I knew I wanted to be home more.

Then, like divine timing, TikTok and God introduced me to ISR. I watched video after video of small children conquering their fears, mastering life-saving skills, and floating to safety. Each time, I teared up and got chills—I knew this was what I was meant to do.

I began persistently reaching out to ISR’s training department, even after being told there were no openings. Life moved on—I became pregnant with our second daughter—but I kept following up. Finally, I got the call: I was accepted into the program. The only available training was in New Jersey. So I cleared my flying schedule, put my life on hold, and traveled over 2,000 miles away from my family—six months pregnant—to learn how to save little lives. I waddled in and out of that pool every day, soaking up everything I could.

After completing training, I returned to Albuquerque to enjoy the last few weeks of pregnancy. And now—I’m thrilled to hop back in the water with your little ones and share the gift of survival swimming.