For at least the past six summers (frankly, I’ve lost count), I’ve worked at one of the many the summer camps that are held at the my high school. It’s a performing arts camp, where the kids make crafts, sing songs, and put on a play at the end of the week. It pays really, really well, which is a great incentive to me (and probably others.) I'm also one of the most impatient people on the planet. There are a few things that I’ve learned over the years, most of them about controlling my patience and my temper. Here are things every counselor should know:
1. Resign yourself to the fact that you’re going to be spending X number of weeks waking up before 75 percent of the human population.
2. Have at least three coffees if you even want to even attempt to get though the day dealing with children under the age of 10.
3. Accept that there are going to be demons from hell attending the camp and there is nothing that you can do about it but cry yourself to sleep at night.
4. Don’t think that you can marathon “That ‘70s Show” on a Sunday night when you need to wake up at 7:00 a.m. to be bright eyed and bushy tailed for the children the next morning.
5. Some kids were just born to be a pain and everything you do will still not be good enough. Just smile and remember the paycheck.
6. Focus on the adorable kids that actually love you and will run up and hug you every morning.
7. Be on guard for the kids who come up to you and poke you in the stomach—resist the urge to yell at them.
8. The kids are only going to ask for help when you’re helping another camper with his or her art project, just smile and know you’re going to say “In a moment” at least a hundred times.
9. Remember to eat, because grumpiness to kids under 10 is basically a crime.
10. Kids leave everything everywhere, so get used to sweeping up at least 12 times a day.
11. Remember that you’re working there because you love it, no matter how deep down you need to search to realize it.
Being a camp counselor is no easy job, especially if you hate stupid questions and whining voices. But at the end of the day, it’s the memories of kids here that really stay with us for years to come.
