During the summer, I started working at a YMCA summer camp in my hometown. I worked with kids from ages 5 to 6, but the camp had children from age 3 to 16. Even with all the other age groups, I couldn't imagine not working with my campers. They were funny, most of them being outgoing, and had a never-ending supply of energy. They were mostly out of their phase of having accidents and throwing tantrums, but we always had the occasional breakdown. The job was challenging in the best way, but it was also an amazing experience.
1. Their optimism
Something I realized while working with kids is that no matter what may have happened a few minutes ago, they're already laughing and smiling. Whether it was tripping over a curb or someone taking their ball, it doesn't matter the next day.
2. Their laughs
If you've never heard a 5-year-old's laugh at their camp counselor making a funny face or when they're being chased by other campers during a game of tag, you haven't lived. It's infectious in the best way.
3. Losing yourself in your work
You forget the outside world when you work with kids. You could be having the worst day possible, but the work is so involved and in need of your attention at all times that whatever is going on doesn't matter for a little while.
4. The rewarding feeling
You go home every day thinking about the day, the little victories, and things to improve on. But the best part of that is knowing that a camper is going to go home and tell their parents a story about what happened at camp today.
5. The work day never ends
The second you leave, you think about how maybe you could have done one more round of Poison Dart Frog after lunch or kick yourself because you should have spent more time doing crafts so you could have talked more with them. On the way home, you're already planning for the next day.
6. Helping them up
Seeing a little boy fall and scrape up his knees and elbows is a heart-breaking sight. They burst into tears because, for them, that may be the worst pain they've ever felt. But you pick him right up, dust him off, rinse off the cuts, and tell him how awesome he's being. In an hour or so, it seems like the Band-Aids aren't even there.
7. Seeing them learn
At my camp specifically, we also teach kids how to swim. I watched as a little boy start out the summer being terrified of the water. Near the end of the summer, I watched him jump in the deep end and swim across the entire length of the pool. It was a proud moment for him and I, because I knew that I had helped him achieve that goal.
8. Watching them grow
In just a short few months, campers were already using a bigger vocabulary, moving into the older kids' group, and would proudly show me the teeth they had lost. I forgot how new and exciting everything was when I was younger and it was a great reminder.
9. Realizing your impact
I didn't realize my own impact until a parent told my coworkers and me that when they go home, the kids play camp. The camper would pretend to be a counselor while his younger sibling would be the camper. It was amazing to see him continue to want to be at camp, even when he left.
10. Knowing you will be remembered
The teary-eyed faces of the campers as I was leaving on my last day will forever be stuck in the back of my mind. I know they'll forget all about it when they see me again next summer, but the time between is hard, especially since I enjoyed working with them so much.
I can't wait to see my campers and gain new ones. I look forward to watching them grow and mature into the amazing teenagers, and eventually adults, I know they can be.
