Every summer, college students from all around gather at various summer camps to help lead, teach, and guide younger kids into living better lives and showing them what it's like to have fun without sitting on their phone inside on nice, summer days. All of those college students have many different things that they can relate to when spending their summers out in the hot sun. Camp counselors understand the joys and struggles of every summer with all the occasional struggles of...
1. Chaco tans galore.
There's always a little competition to see who can get "the best chaco tan." Of course, when it comes to going to the beach or just walking barefoot, everyone around you stares at your feet questioning what's wrong.
2. One word: Flannels.
A necessity. Flannels basically become a part of everyday wear and really your life. Without one, you're lost.
3. Bug spray and sunscreen.
What is perfume/cologne again? A day without bug spray or sunscreen can turn into your worst nightmare.
4. Camp songs.
You know more camp songs than you do songs on the radio, and no matter what day or time it is, there's always that one camp song that gets stuck in your head and won't leave until you sing it out loud and dance along with it.
5. Camp food.
Camp food becomes normal food, and you don't know anything else. Every meal, you look forward to seeing what dessert gets put up in the window, hoping its gooey chocolate chip cookies.
6. Friendship bracelets and waterproof watches.
By the end of every week you can see that somehow your wrist got decorated by hairbands, friendship bracelets, and your waterproof watch. By the end of the summer, you almost feel naked without them (not to mention the sweet tan line you get from them).
7. Hearing "in a minute" and responding "but not yet."
After spending your summer telling kids, "In a minute, but not yet," you can't help but say it to your friends in school when they say, "In a minute."
8. Letters.
Letters are the greatest things that you could see in your mailbox. Nothing can make you more happy (besides those adorable campers) than receiving a letter in the mail.
9. Camp withdrawals.
Somehow, you can find yourself missing camp when you haven't even left yet. Having the idea that camp is almost over terrifies you because you don't want it to end. Throughout the school year you'll find yourself talking to your fellow counselors, missing them terribly, and wanting everyone to come back.
10. Loving your job.
No matter what your week was like or how your campers were, you always stay, loving your job just as much as you did the first day you showed up. Without camp you don't know where else you'd be or what you'd be doing.
Between the sleepless nights and exciting days, it's not an easy job, but it's so worth it. By giving your summer to others, you receive so much more in return. The bond made between campers and staff is unspoken but runs deep. Being a camp counselor is what you love to do and couldn't imagine doing anything else.
