If your parents are forcing you to get a job over the summer, or if you are simply looking for one, I highly recommend camp counseling. I realized last year, at my ripe age of 16, that I loved working with kids. I soon realized that a great first job would be working as a camp counselor. However, I did not know I would learn so many lessons over one summer.
1) Interdependence
You never realize how much you need a person until you are dealing with 15 rowdy 7-year-olds. Being a camp counselor helped me remember that I cannot do everything by myself. Having support from others is not always a sign of weakness.
2) A Smile Goes A Mile
You could be having the worst day ever, but a smile from the radiating face of a child can change everything. Once you learn to smile more, you realize that you have more happiness. It keeps you in a good mood which can definitely change the course of a day in a flash.
3) You Don’t Have All The Time In The World
Every day in the summer, I would go to bed at 4 a.m. and wake up at 12 p.m. Becoming a counselor forced me to stay punctual, and arrive on time for work. I must admit, I am always late … to everything. Having a job forced me to learn how to manage my time.
4) Don’t Spend Your Cash In A Dash
As soon as I saw my mom put money in my account, it was gone. I never knew the significance of making my own money until I had a job, and my mom stopped helping me out. I realized that if I wanted to still have summer fun, I would have to learn how to save my money and spend it when necessary.
5) You Will Not Always Love Everything
I had this belief that being a counselor would make my summer amazing. Yet, just like any other person, I found myself moaning and groaning as I rolled out of bed at 7 a.m. I realized that you will not always wake up and be 100% on your A-Game everyday.
6) Patience Is Key
Dealing with a dozen elementary aged kids every day is stressful to say the least. There will be tears shed and multiple things repeated, yet with every day moving forward you learn how to deal with it. If you do not have patience, then this job will be miserable!
7) Step Out Of Your Comfort Zone
I would like to think that I am an extrovert, yet it seems as if, when I am put into situations where I do not know anyone or am the youngest in the group, I become the quietest person ever. However, I learned to start being the first to start conversations and share ideas. I learned to not be the shy 16-year-old girl I suddenly seemed to become, and instead became someone who was confident enough to talk to new people daily and be her quirky self around the kids.
Becoming a camp counselor was one of the best decisions I've ever made. I learned new lessons that I will keep dear to my heart for years to come. It gave me the necessary skills I needed to succeed in the real world. Also, what other summer job gives you the weekends off?
