RECognition: Julia Fitzpatrick, Aquatics

Recreation's monthly series to highlight and celebrate our staff

By Shawn Cyr
Assistant Marketing Director

Julia Fitzpatrick spends so much time at Canyonview Aquatic Complex that she figured she might as well get paid for it.

A longtime swimmer and a lifeguard since she was 15 — though that was a seasonal position because the pools in her native Philadelphia aren’t year-round —  it was a perfect fit. Especially since many of her teammates from Club Swim were already part of the Recreation Aquatics team. Whether she was swimming, hanging with friends, or tanning, Canyonview and RIMAC have become a major part of her day-to-day routine.

“My favorite part about working at REC is being able to be outside in the sun and connect with my coworkers throughout the day,” says Julia, a third-year in Seventh College majoring in molecular cell biology. “The environment is really positive, and everyone is super friendly. I’ve been able to build relationships with people across different areas of the staff, not just other guards, which has made the experience even more rewarding. It’s also fun getting to see a lot of my friends when they come to swim.”

So she joined REC as a lifeguard in the summer of 2025 and has been keeping the pools safe ever since, enforcing safety rules, providing swim tests, and “making sure everyone is safe while still having a good experience.” Unsurprisingly, she’s pretty darn good at it.

“When the unexpected pops up, Julia is already on deck, ready to fill coverage gaps and coordinate lifesaving actions,” Aquatics Director Jason Dillon says. “Julia embodies the true first‑responder mindset, and her dedication to fitness and ever‑sunny presence make every day at the UC San Diego pool a safer, brighter place for everyone.”

When she’s not at Canyonview — or stopping at Croutons for her go-to chicken pesto panini  — you can probably find Julia getting a pump at RIMAC. A member of the Triton Flex student org, it’s a running joke that every day is leg day for Julia, who spends up to four hours a day “yapping with a side of lifting.”

“I’ve been bodybuilding for five years now, and it’s a huge part of my lifestyle,” she says. “I love my gym community so much. They’re some of my closest friends, and I always look forward to seeing them every day.”

Perhaps, then, it’s no surprise that Julia can’t help but occasionally channel her inner lifeguard — even in the weight room. 

“The community there is so welcoming and happy to yap with anyone,” she says. “I really love being able to help my friends with their form as well, since I’ve been in this space for so long, and it’s really difficult to know if you’re doing something right if you don’t know what to feel or look for.”

Good thing Julia is there for them. Sometimes she even gets paid for it.