Skip The Internship: Be A Summer Camp Counselor Instead | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

Skip The Internship: Be A Summer Camp Counselor Instead

Improve your future while having the best summer of your life.

767
Skip The Internship: Be A Summer Camp Counselor Instead
Camp Ernst

If your college community is anything like mine, you're probably surrounded by peers who find themselves stressed out this time of year as a result of internship applications. 'Tis the season for figuring out what you're gonna do this summer. In today's cut-throat world, everyone seems determined to get one step closer to the promised land of corporate America by doing some sort of summer internship that will "advance their career" or "flesh out their resume". With all due respect to the employers out there looking for summer interns, I believe there's something better you can do with your summer to prepare yourself for the real world - go work at summer camp.

I wholeheartedly believe that the best thing you could do to improve yourself as a human being, and future employee out there in the real world, is to be a summer camp counselor. What does living in a cabin in the woods have to do with professional development, you ask? Why should you waste your time hanging out with kids, when you could be hobnobbing with adults all summer, making connections that'll pay off once you're in the real world? The simple is answer is this: at camp, you learn how to interact with other human beings. You learn to understand human beings. Whatever you do in the real world, the ability to connect with people will be of paramount importance. You could have all the book-smart knowledge in the world, but if you lack emotional intelligence, then (forgive my bluntness) you'll be worthless in the workforce. Certainly, there are other ways to hone these skills.....but just think for a second about what working at summer camp entails. Everyday, you wake up having no idea what will happen. As a counselor, your sole responsibility is the happiness of a dozen children. Though that job sounds easy enough, the unpredictability of each day causes you to think on your toes in ways that you're not required to do for most jobs--but in a way that most employers would love for prospective employees to be able to do. The job requires improvisation and empathy. You must balance the individual wants and needs of a variety of people, in an effort to form them into a cohesive group. Where else can you work on these skills in such a concentrated, intentional environment?

Admittedly, I'm speaking from a place of bias. I've had the unique pleasure of being a summer camp staff member for the past six years, and I have grown both personally and professionally in a multitude of ways. I've aided children in conflict resolution, improvised rainy day activities during unexpected pop-up storms, and helped children through intense emotional situations. All of this and more has prepared me to go out into the real world confident in my ability to bridge gaps between human beings and to think on my feet. When you're considering what you should do this summer, and you feel like you have to get an internship in a metropolitan office in order to advance your professional career, think twice--and consider applying to be a summer camp counselor instead. It'll change your life, as you simultaneously change the lives of others.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Lifestyle

Pros And Cons Of Having A Birthday Near The Holidays

The truth of what it is like having a birthday around the holiday season.

1111
Christmas decoration
Flickr

It's the most wonderful time of the year!! But for some people, including myself and my Dad, it can have its ups and downs when it comes to having a birthday near and around the holiday season. I personally share a birthday with my Dad two days before Christmas. Yes, Christmas Eve Eve is our birthday. Here are a few pros and cons for having a birthday near the holidays.

Keep Reading...Show less
Christmas Tree Lights
Pixabay

It is that time of year again. Christmastime. It is one of my favorite seasons for a myriad of reasons. Here are just a few reasons why I love Christmas. This list is in no order of importance.

1. The Christmas decorations

I am that person who will decorate directly after Thanksgiving is over. This year, my roommates and I put the tree up in our apartment before we even left for Thanksgiving break. It is a great stress reliever for me to just sit in my living room and work on the huge amount of work I have before the semester is over.

Keep Reading...Show less
girl with santa hat
Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash

'Tis the season to be jolly folks, and if you're anything like me, then at the stroke of midnight on Halloween your home went from wicked to winter

Keep Reading...Show less
mistake
Project Eve

Mistakes are something we all make, no matter how old we get. Most of the time, the mistakes we made are little and sometimes due to something out of our control. Yet, there are mistakes that are bigger than others. Personally, I have mistakes that I wish I could go back and undo. Here they are:

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

5 Things To Do That Are Better Than Writing A Paper

Don't waste your time trying to write that paper when there are so many more interesting things you could be doing.

12927
computer keyboard
Unsplash

Writing a paper is never fun and is rarely rewarding. The writer's block, the page requirement, be specific, but don’t summarize, make sure you fixed any grammatical errors, did you even use spellcheck? and analyze, analyze, analyze.

Papers can be a major pain. They take up so much time and effort that by the end of the process you hate yourself and you hate the professor for making life so difficult. Questions of your existence start roaming in your mind. Am I even cut out for college if I can’t write a single paper? Am I even capable of taking care of myself if I lack the energy to open my laptop and start typing?

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments