1. You stop caring what others think.
After having to make safety rules seem fun and enjoyable. After walking casually around camp covered head to toe with mud. You begin to stop thinking of yourself as “The Weird Guy” and more as the one who can have fun. Because believe it or not, confidence makes people jealous. And there is nothing better than starting a stupid trend.
2. You actually begin to judge those who do care about their appearance.
“What you put make up on? I totally forgot that was still a thing”
3. Your “forced smile” turns into a habit you can’t stop.
I don’t know how to put it any other way. You literally can’t stop smiling.
4. You find joy in the little things.
The other day I forgot a pencil to class and the kid behind me loaned me one. I don’t think he was prepared for my overly enthusiast thank you and kind spiel as to how awesome he was as a person.
5. Fall in love with a child or children.
There is a connection you make with the kids you work with. They almost in a way become your child and you turn into a mom or a father. During the course of the year you wonder how they are doing and whether you will ever see them again.
6. Gain photos that make you cry.
One of my most favorite things to do is to look back on old photos. And looking back on old camp photos brings back the memories you had right that second, whether it's bitter or good.
7. People change.
For me I attended the camp I worked at as a camper and thought coming as a counselor that everything will be all sunshine and rainbows, and to tell you now, that's not the case. People grow up and the friends I had when I was little were not how I imagined them and I learned to not live in the past.
8. The world doesn’t revolve around me.
This may seem a little odd, but I learned this. Camp is my home away from home and it also became the place where I didn't have to try. But becoming a counselor and having to take charge, it is different on the other side. I could no longer be a camper and run from my problems and pretend no one heard them. I had to learn to take charge and actually get things done.
9. The relationship you have with kids can tell a lot about someone.
So listen, kids are the future. So when you struggle or don't like hanging out with kids it says that you are incapable of just having fun. If you treat kids poorly it says that you don't think they are important. If you treat kids like they are your best friend, then it tells you that you aren't mature enough. It was odd how spending so much time with kids made me realize so much about myself.
10. The memories you make last forever.
I find it extremely necessary to end with a cliché because after being a counselor you use clichés on a daily bases.
