Born and raised in the Bronx, Jokayra expressed so much love for the water as a child that her parents did everything possible for her to have access to it. From weekend trips to waterparks in the summer to joining indoor pools during the winter and fall, Jokayra was almost always around the water. With her parents' encouragement, she shared her passion for swimming with other family members, teaching her cousins basic swim safety skills even as she was still learning the strokes herself. During her sophomore year at St. Jean Baptiste High School, Jokayra decided to become a lifeguard as a way of staying close to the water when she wasn't at school. Now attending Baruch College and studying for a Marketing Management BBA, she has continued to spread her love of the water through teaching at Imagine.