I'm just a sterotype when it comes to swimming.

"Black people don't swim!"

I don't think there is a single person out there who hasn't heard a black comedian say this when talking about an African-American person in their comedian routine.

But is it true?

Well in my case it is. In my twenty-nine years of existence I have never learned how to swim. I am the type of person when growing up would freak out in six feet of water (writer side note: I'm 6'1"). Growing up in New Jersey and later on in Florida, my parents couldn't afford a pool or even had the time to take my sister and I to the public pool or beach. So all of our watery fun was spent running through the sprinklers and making homemade slip n' slides. Apparently neither prepares a man on the proper etiquette on swimming in a basin full of water. Just recently I tried to swim in three feet of water and found myself sinking to the bottom of the pool every time I flailed my arms like a man possessed. To make matters worse, I must have been in the kiddie pool as there were a few two to three year old kids swam effortlessly around me.

So on the request of my swimming partner, I am taking swimming lessons. I am very curious to see if these instructors can quell my fear of water and have me swimming like Michael Phelps.

I think I'm going to try and change this stereotype, well at least try to.