Olympic diver dives with teenagers

Olympic diver Sara Hildebrand got a lesson from teenagers in trouble with the law.

Hildebrand partnered with Team USA and BP as part of a program that serves 9,000 teens in the juvenile justice system in nine states.

And last week she dove into Biscayne Bay with 17-year-old Clarence, something the teen never thought he’d be doing. The two went scuba diving.

“It’s a whole other world,” he said about his venture under the sea.

The teen, from Gonzales, La., got into trouble when he pushed a teacher in class. He got kicked out of school, but AMIkids gave him a second chance.

“It saved my life,” he said.

AMIkids offers mentoring, tutoring, and outdoor activities to give troubled teens a positive way out of juvenile detention.

The teen improved his grades and his attitude, earning a chance to get his open water diver’s certification.

After meeting Hildebrand, Clarence now wants a professional underwater diving career. He plans to finish high school and go to college.

Hildebrand wanted Clarence and other teens to know “dreams do come true.”

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