There was a saying that I learned almost 10 years ago during my first time at summer camp, “tis better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.” This is something that I believe anyone can apply to their life, but to me and my fellow campers, this advice resonated deeply. We attended America’s Camp, a one week sleep away camp in the Berkshires for children who lost a parent on 9/11.
Most people hearing that description probably imagine a camp with group therapy, or a lot of time sitting down and sorting out our feelings, but it was far from that. Our group therapy was singing and dancing on the tables after we finished a meal, being allowed to just be a kid helped us more than a long talk in a quiet room could. We all came from different families, places, and backgrounds, but we did share one common, and very intense experience.
I can’t speak for all of my America’s Camp family, but being thrust into a situation that was not only a personal family tragedy, but a moment of national tragedy, is a pretty isolating experience. None of our home friends, no matter how understanding, would ever be able to fully grasp what it was like to be in our situation, so having a support system like that was insanely important; and having a place where our only job was to be ourselves was something so necessary.
I often think of camp when I’m feeling down, and the uplifting effect it had on hundreds of people. I think of how I wouldn’t be the person I am today if it wasn’t for the memories and friendships I made there. I think of how America’s camp was the candle lit in the darkness of such a huge tragedy, and it makes me want to light a candle every time myself, or someone around me is experiencing their own darkness.
