Ana grew up in a small rural town in upstate New York that boasted more apple orchards than people, before making the big move to... wait for it - the Big Apple... as she sought a faster change of pace. Ana has been a swimmer for as long as she can remember. She started her competitive journey on a local club called Aqua Gems before going on to compete for her high school's varsity team, where she excelled as a butterflier and breaststroker. It felt only natural for her to become a lifeguard and private swim instructor next, and it was those early employment experiences that forged a love for teaching and working in and around the water. Outside the pool, Ana is currently working towards her Bachelor’s in Teaching English Grades 7-12 at NYU. When she's not studying or teaching, she can be found reading and writing sci-fi stories or spending time with her pets.