This helps me a lot guys... I feel much better about this now.

I would say that they should not be kept in water unattended. When people soak them they only put enough water to cover about 1/4 of the body. So they technically aren't even swimming.
Water is actually not advised for ball pythons because it can cause their scales to get mushy and rot. The only time you would soak them in a tub is if they had a bad shed and you need to get the excess skin off, or if they have soiled themselves and need a quick rinse.
So the people on Youtube are stupid... not a surprise...
No water.

I'll take her out and set her in my lap or on my desk and she'll just sit there and watch me do whatever it is that I'm doing
So her hanging out while my MC is working on a term paper is totally cool? phew! I was a little worried about that part.

A lot of people think ball pythons grow to 20ft long and eat people and pets (my mother used to think this until I got my ball python).
One of the reasons my landlords won't let me keep one in their house. That and the whole "the puppies we breed are the size of small rodents"....

Good luck to you!
Thanks!