It was one of my favorite days. The leaves had begun their transition from vibrant shades of green to those of a sunrise, the cool breeze provided much-needed relief from the summer's sweltering days, the smell of warm soup on the stove filled my nostrils, and the mailbox held a letter addressed to me.
Sitting at my desk, I studied it in my hands. It didn't have a name written in the return address, and the original recipient address was obscured by a sticker with mine on it, only traces of sloppy pencil marks showing through. I ripped it open, unable to hold off solving its mystery any longer. As I pulled the letter out of the mysterious envelope, my heart swelled and tears instantly filled my eyes. It read, "Dear Madison, I miss you a-l-o-t a lot! You were one of the only people who I thought about [since] camp. From: Caroline." Caroline is an eight-year-old camper from my cabin of young girls I led as a Staff in Training at Gwynn Valley Camp several summers ago.
Caroline's words were few, but they meant so much to me. Gwynn Valley has been a constant part of my summer for twelve years, and the nurturing environment I experience there has greatly impacted how I see the world and the people living in it. My goal working there these past few summers has been to impact the campers in a way similar to the impact that was made on me when I was a camper and to change their lives through the work I did.
As a Staff in Training, I had many jobs including assisting a cabin of girls, setting tables, distributing food, cleaning dishes and floors, leading horses, and teaching crafts. This list of responsibilities, while ensuring camp needs were met, also facilitated the achievement of my personal goal. The strenuous work I did was nothing short of draining, yet I was driven by my passion for instilling GV's values: appreciation of the natural world and acceptance. I loved that I was able to see the final result of all of my hard work in their smiles, hugs goodbye on closing day, and, in Caroline's case, letters.
Although I lost ounces of sweat by the end of each day, and my back lost feeling from piggyback rides and the scooping of horse manure, I gained leadership skills, many valuable friendships, and strength to persevere in challenging situations. Every summer at Gwynn Valley, I have the opportunity to learn something new about myself. As I have worked towards my goal, I have discovered my capability of strategizing lesson plans, comforting homesick children, and even waking up at 6 a.m. to run and clear my mind.
The passion I have for camp and instilling knowledge and joy into the hearts of others can easily be transferred to any area of my life at college or in the workplace. I will be able to find positivity and purpose in all of my work and classes because I am working towards a goal important to me. Since I have returned to this camp nestled high in the mountains of North Carolina as a crafts Program Leader, I have been motivated to replicate the mark I made on Caroline.
