I want to apologize in advance because I know that the number of Fish Camp related articles on the Internet over the last several months has been an overwhelming amount. I told myself I would not become one of the many choosing this cherished Aggie Tradition as my article topic, but after this past week, I have no choice.
My path of entrance to Texas A&M was out of the ordinary. I began college in the spring, rather than the fall, therefore I did not attend fish camp the summer before my freshman year as my classmates had. I attended Transfer camp in January of 2016 and had an incredible experience where I made lifelong friendships and really prepared myself for life as an Aggie. However, I knew that fish camp was something I still wanted to experience, so I went out on a limb and applied to be a counselor for Fish Camp 2016 so I could assist in transitioning the class of 2020 into the Aggie Family. In my heart, I knew this was the path I was meant to take. I was ecstatic when I found out I would be a counselor for fish camp session 5. My dreams were coming true. I knew this would be a life-changing experience, but I could not have even begun to imagine to what extent.
Throughout these last few months, fish camp has become so much more than an organization to me. My fellow counselors have become my closest friends, regardless of the short amount of time we have known each other. It amazes me how 26 people can come together so quickly. As the summer went on, our relationships grew to an unexplainable level, and it all led up to the events of last week.
Suddenly, on August 10th, our family of 26 grew immensely, as freshman began filing into reed arena. As I stared at this group of freshman, not knowing a single name, I already began to love them. The next four days I had the privilege of watching each one of them grow and break out of their shell. I watched them go from graduated seniors from all different places to members of the Aggie Family, class of 2020 edition.
At fish camp, there is this saying: “From the outside looking in, you can’t understand it. From the inside looking out you cannot explain it.” I have never read something so true.
Throughout college, you will make many friends, join many things, and make incredible memories. But the relationships built while transitioning a hundred freshman Aggie’s into the greatest school in the nation is unlike anything else. Now, I can say without hesitation that those 26 random people I was introduced to back in March are now my family. I know now that I have found my place at Texas A&M.
As fish camp came to an end, and we boarded the busses back to college station, I was not sad. I looked around at our freshman, who has started as strangers, and quickly became family as well, and I looked at my 26 best friends sitting around me, and I knew that this journey was only beginning. At Texas A&M there is “a spirit that can never be told,” and its things like this that make this university unique. This is why Texas A&M is truly my greatest blessing.
