Over the summer, most of us head to some sort of sleep-away camp, whether it be for music, art, sports, or just general camp! When we go somewhere where we don't know anyone, it can be scary at first. Scary until you realize that you are about to meet some of the best friends you will ever have. When I went to Gallaudet University for a week long Sign Language camp, I met some of the most amazing people. We connected instantly, and those instant connections are what brought us closer than ever and turned us into best friends. Here are the top five reasons as to why camp friends are friends for life.
1. There are no previous misconceptions of who you are.
Chances are you have been going to school with the same people since elementary school. You have watched each other grow up and evolve into the people you all are today. Friendships are formed early on, many of which die out by the time high school comes around. You will form new friendships, but the likelihood of you becoming best buds with a girl you didn’t like early on because of how she acted, how she treated the boy with the funny glasses, or a simple remark she made towards you are slim to none. Reason why? You have an idea of who she is from the outside that you are unwilling to change in the slightest. At camp, that doesn’t happen.
When I walked into camp for the first time, I sat down and started a conversation with a girl named Erin. I didn’t know anything about her except that we must have at least one thing in common, considering we ended up at the same camp. But did it matter that I had no clue who she was? Not at all. We became friends based on chance, not based on misconceptions.
2. Distance won’t matter. In fact, it’ll bring you closer.
Camp unfortunately won’t last forever. The last day will come, and the dreaded goodbyes must happen. As I stood in the lobby at 6 a.m. this past summer hugging my friend goodbye, I couldn’t help but wonder the next time I would see him. I live in Georgia, he lives in California. Not exactly a picnic in the park to see each other. It didn’t stop us from becoming incredibly close, however. Late night Skype calls and random “I miss and love you” texts throughout the week somehow made it a little easier to learn all about each other and talk about everything under the sun. I know that despite how far distance wise he is from me, he is only a short phone call away.
3. You have your own language.
In my case, my friends and I actually did. We met at a sign language camp, and throughout the week, communicated in only ASL. But, we also communicated in our own language of inside jokes, awkward moments, and unique experiences that no one else will ever be able to understand. You can try explaining it to an outsider, but chances are they will just stare at you like you’re crazy. And the jokes don’t just end at camp; you carry them with you year after year. They may escape your mind for a period of time, but it makes it all the funnier when you look back and remember them down the road.
4. You never take a single moment you are together for granted.
Last summer when I went to Boston to visit my friend Beni, we sat down for lunch. In between ordering and eating, we started catching up. We talked and talked and talked. We talked about everything under the sun from recent events to stories that predated those events by years. Halfway through the meal, we both noticed that the waitress had walked by us a few times without stopping to check on us, all because we were so into our conversation that she didn’t want to interrupt us.
The time you have with camp friends is both precious and limited. It’s not often you get together, so you have to make the most of each and every moment. It’s a time to put down the phone and spend time making memories to last a lifetime, because who knows the next time you’ll be face to face.
5. Your friendships will actually last forever.
Eight days we were friends before having to part. That's not a lot of time to become best buds. But in that time, you do meet people who you feel you'd like to get to know better and continue a friendship with. The entire basis and continuation for that friendship is long distance. You have to text, call, and video chat in order to get to know each other, unlike the relationships you build in your own community in which you can call your friend up and be at coffee within 15 minutes. Since you have become close friends from far away, there should be no doubt in your mind that you’ll be able to stay friends no matter where you end up in life. You will make every effort to see each other, even if it's only for 10 minutes. And when you do get to see each other, it'll make you jump for joy.
See? Camp friends really are the best. I’m so thankful for each and every one of mine, because God knows my life wouldn’t be the same without them.