For as long as I can remember, I have spent my summers at the same local day camp. It was nothing extravagant, just a public park the town decided to use to make an extra buck or two. The pool was always cold, the basketballs were never quite fully inflated, and poison ivy was rampant once you entered the wooded areas. Regardless, I loved every second of it. From 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., I was smiling. I knew from a young age that I would continue my summer tradition at the park as a counselor. As I am approaching my second year as a senior counselor, I have come to the realization that this summer may be my last. The time to assert myself into the “real world” is quickly approaching, meaning internships and jobs in my field should be my first priority over my lifelong summer pastime. 12 years have flown by, each more memorable than the last. As I reminisce, I realize that this park has had such an impact on my life that I need to find some way to show my appreciation. For the amazing summers I have spent at summer camp, I want to say thank you.

Thank you for introducing me to my best friend. When 9-year-old me was being picked on and excluded by the other girls in the group, she was the only one who stood up for me. I will never forget how it felt to watch her walk up to the “popular girls” and tell them how she would rather hang out with me over them any day. It was her only summer spent at camp, so I still consider myself extremely lucky that our paths crossed. 10 years later, we have been everywhere from the snowy tops of mountains to sandy beaches in the Bahamas together, with many more adventures in the future.

Thank you for jump starting my love life. Although I managed to get my first “boyfriend” at age 11, whatever that means to a preteen, it wasn’t until the summer after seventh grade that I actually had my first kiss. It was nothing romantic; in fact, it was actually laughable. The idea of sitting on a picnic table surrounded by a mob of 13-year-old boys chanting “Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!” still makes me cringe, but the look of approval (and maybe pride) I got from my counselor as I walked back to my group was unforgettable. My confidence had skyrocketed.

Thank you for teaching me that my best friends don’t have to live in my town. For a long time, I thought that my core group of friends should go to my school, be in my classes, and be present in my life nearly every day. The friends that I have made working at camp have been from neighboring towns, which was a struggle before I had a car of my own, but in the end only expanded my social circle. When I needed to escape the drama of my high school, I simply went to Molly’s house 20 minutes away to de-stress and rant to an unbiased set of ears. When I needed someone closer to home, I was so happy to have Sydney ready to grab coffee at a moment’s notice. These friends have become a second family, and even though we all go to different colleges now, we will always be brought back together through our experiences at camp.

Thank you for giving me patience with children. Whether I have a 6-year-old screaming about falling and scraping their knee or a 12-year-old with a major superiority complex, I am sure that I can resolve the issue with no collateral damage. The five years of experience I have working with children has given me an advantage when it comes to dealing with other social problems as well. Deep down, we are all still a little childish sometimes.

Thank you for giving me patience with adults. Even though I was the one supervising their kids all day, I rarely got a sincere thank you or apology for a rowdy camper. Many times, parents didn’t seem the slightest bit interested in who would be spending the day with their kids. They repeatedly did not pass on vital information about their kids regarding important issues such as a food allergy, a change in medication, or even a mental disability. There have been times where a parent would become frustrated with me when their child misbehaved, claiming that “they know their kid” and that “they would never do that” even though I had seen the camper break whatever rule of the day had been broken. With a lot of practice, I have mastered the tone of voice and facial expressions needed to appease an angry adult without caving in and ignoring my own beliefs.

Lastly, thank you for shaping me into the person I am today. It is the little things like learning how to tie ice skates and play card games like Spit and Kings Corners that will stay with me forever. You have given me a lifetime of memories that I will always be grateful for and that I will carry with me for the rest of my days. Thank you, Dix Hills Adventure Camp, for 12 amazing summers, and one legendary more to come.