Emily

Setters swimmer Adam James joined the U.S. Coast Guard in 2011. (Photo courtesy of Adam James)

For some, it can be hard sometimes to know exactly what to do in life, especially at a young age. But once figured out, it can turn out to be something quite special.

Swimmer Adam James can relate to this. At a young age, James has already accomplished much, having joined the U.S. Coast Guard Academy back in 2011.

“I always wanted to serve,” said James, who took a break from school his sophomore year in order to train in New Jersey. “I think that we live in a coun­try with many opportunities and I just wanted to do something to give back, and I think that serv­ing my country is the least I could do.”

With his father having been a police officer, and both of his grandfather’s having served in World War II, James’ family played an influence on his deci­sion to join the Coast Guard.

“Both my grandparents served this country and I want to be able to do the same,” James said. “I really look up to both my dad and my mom, and all of them serve as my influences.”

The Coast Guard has provid­ed James with the opportunity to serve his country, among other things.

“One of the things that I en­joy about being a part of the Coast Guard is all the opportuni­ties that I have had so far,” said James, who has been stationed in California, and is currently sta­tioned in New Haven. “I’ve got­ten to meet a lot of people that I otherwise would have never had the chance to meet. I also find that being a part of the Coast Guard, it’s a lot more structured than college. People have a lot of respect for one another and it has really helped me prepare for the real world.”

But the real world can get quite stressful at times, hav­ing to juggle different things at once, but James has been able to manage, as he is a student athlete studying criminal justice, while also helping others.

“It can be very hard balanc­ing everything, I have school and swimming and then on the week­ends I work, so I really don’t get a break,” James said. “Come Dec. 13 it’s going to be two years since I joined the Coast Guard and I’ve learned to balance both lifestyles. But I have no regrets, it’s worth the sacrifice.”

One of the sacrifices that James has had to make since joining the Coast Guard is giv­ing up his peace of mind. Seeing that he could be called upon at any time, he has to be ready for any situation.

“That is certainly always in the back of my mind, the fact that at any second I might have to leave can certainly be daunt­ing,” James said. “However, it’s a commitment, and you have to be ready at all times. I’ve gotten used to it, and there are certainly many benefits that come with the job, so it’s worth it. I chose to be here.”

Aside from being a member of the Coast Guard, James has also been working as a lifeguard for the past six years at his home­town of Plainville, Connecticut.

“I’ve always been around the water, so becoming a lifeguard was kind of just a natural pro­gression,” James said. “I really like helping people and being a supervisor now I get to really help out my colleagues and just be able to respond to anything that might happen.”

From the waters of Plain­ville to the waters at Pace, James brings that selfless attitude wher­ever he goes, something that teammate Timothy Izzo has no­ticed during his two years as a Setter.

“Adam has been a wonder­ful team mate,” Izzo said. “He has shown great leadership and dedication to the team. He is seen as a role model by all of us considering all he has achieved at such a young age. Before Pace I personally had no swim experi­ence and Adam was always there to lend a word of encouragement or show me how to properly do something to help me achieve my best in the pool.”

With all that he does, James plans on carrying that selfless attitude into his profession, as he hopes to take the skills that he has learned from his years of lifeguarding, as well as being on the Coast Guard into the world of police work.

“I really want to go into po­lice work,” James said. “I want to start off as a cop, like my dad, because you have to start some­where. But I want to eventually work my way up to be a detec­tive.”

For all that he does, James has always had a passion for swim­ming, an activity that he has been doing for the past decade.

“You kind of see this wa­ter theme going on with all the things I have done,” said James jokingly. “It’s interesting be­cause I struggled through swim­ming when I was younger. But in the seventh grade I started swimming in school and it just felt right. I love being around the water, I love fishing so it just seemed like a natural fit for me.”

Not only does James enjoy being in the water, but he also enjoys the bond that being on a team brings.

“Being on a team forms in you this sense of brotherhood, you know that you can count on these guys no matter what,” James said.

Being a senior, James’ time at Pace is dwindling down, but he sees bright things ahead for the Pace swimming team.

“I think that our team is very exciting, they’re always break­ing some sort of a record,” said James, who obtained himself two season best times for both the 100 with a time of 50.50, and in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:49.72 at the Northeast-10 Conference Championship last season.

With the last few years of ex­perience under his belt, from the Coast Guard to his swimming days at Pace, James gets ready for the next chapter of his life, feeling confident and prepared.

“I wouldn’t change a minute of the experiences I’ve had at Pace and working with the Coast Guard,” James said. “I’ve felt like everything that I have done has helped me get ready for the real world.”