Growing up I would always see myself working as a teacher. It was always a dream of mine, I’d play school by myself and I’d pretend to teach my stuffed animals their ABC’S. So when one of my mom's friends told me about an opening at an after school camp, I jumped at the chance. I was so excited to start working with kids and get experience before I started my career. Even though my career path has changed, I’m still extremely grateful for the experiences I gained from working with children.
For the past two years, I have been working at an after school program/summer camp and it has been the best experience of my life. Being able to watch the kids grow and learn along the way is truly incredible. Getting to see how different the students are by the end of the year is incredible. They have learned and experienced so much. The beginning of the year some kids might not be able to figure out a simple card game but by the end of the year, they have it mastered and are teaching others about it as well. Every day is different; some are much better than others but no matter what they are all memorable.
Not every day is a walk in the park, though. Some days you just want to scream and rip your hair out, frustrated with being yanked, screamed for and having ten kids in your face all yelling for attention. There are the days when your voice goes hoarse from trying to make everyone stop running around or fighting with each other. It’s the moments where you start freaking out by everyone touching and pulling on you. Even though some days are worse than others you just need to sit back and see the good in every day. It’s the moments where you are trying to quiet the kids and your co-worker interrupts you talking and everyone just laughs. It’s the moments where you’re about to pull your hair out and someone comes up to you and gives you a drawing they drew of the two of you. It’s the moments where you have to turn a movie on early just to get some peace and a kid comes up and lays their head on you. Although there are moments of utter frustration, someone or something will always make it better, whether with a funny joke or a sweet gesture.
Working with children has been the best experience of my life. It has taught me and showed me so much. I’ve learned patience, positivity, open-mindedness, gratitude and so much more. It’s allowed me to see so many different backgrounds, where kids don’t come from the traditional way of living and their lives are so much harder. This job has been the most rewarding and greatest experience of my life. At the end of every summer, it always ends in a very tearful goodbye and the wish for the summer to restart. It ends with the promises from older kids to come visit and the tearful goodbyes to teachers who don’t work during the school year. The memories last forever and the love never fades, it’s always there the first week back to school when the loving greetings come running your way on the first day back to school.
