Summer for students is a much anticipated time. It's a time to unwind from the busy school year and refuel yourself for the start of the next one. It's a time to catch up with friends from high school and go on trips or spend time with your family. But it's also a time when most, if not all, students are working or doing an internship. These summer jobs can be anything from lifeguarding to waitressing to something in your field of study. Or, my personal favorite, a camp counselor.
I suppose there are rewarding and enjoyable parts of any job but here I am, heading into another summer of being a counselor, and I couldn't be more excited. To any other camp counselors -- past, present, or future -- I hope you can understand and share in my excitement for the weeks ahead.
As a camp counselor, you basically get to be a little kid again. Sure, you have the responsibility of making sure no one gets hurt and of doing your best to ensure that everyone is having fun and getting along. While you're doing those things, though, you get to spend day after day with playing kids.
You don't have to act serious or studious or anything to "fit in" or get people to like you. You can just be yourself. Working at a summer camp gives you the chance to let out your inner goofball, relax, and have fun. The more outgoing and fun you're able to be, the more the campers love you, and subsequently, love camp. It's not fun for them or for you if you just sit off to the side and tell them what you want them to do. Get your hands messy for finger painting, run around and play tag, have a water fight in the pool, joke around, and do anything to keep yourself and the kids engaged and having fun.
Another amazing part of working with kids at a summer camp is just talking to the kids themselves. When you're doing a more laid back activity, it's the perfect time to learn some more about them. What starts by asking them what grade they are going into or what they like to do when they aren't in school can turn into a conversation about pretty much anything. Children see the world in such a positive way. Every other conversation isn't about the upcoming election or Brexit or the horrific events that cover the news. Talking to the kids is like a breath of fresh air after scrolling down my Facebook news feed and reading about all of the sad and terrifying things going on. The kids tell you what they want to be when they grow up, they tell you about the time they went to the beach with their parents, or they talk about what they like best at camp. All of it is said so positively and as you feed off that energy and hope you remember that the world really isn't so bad a place.
Of course, there will be some frustrating times. A kid may decide he or she doesn't want to swim. Or maybe a parent will lecture you on something you had nothing to do with. Whenever you are having one of those days where you just want to go home, remember camp counselors you may have had as a kid. Remember how hard they worked to make sure you had the time of your life. Maybe you went back to camp year after year hoping for those one or two counselors to be there again and a small part of you getting crushed when you found out they didn't come back that summer. For all you know, you could be that counselor for your campers. They look forward to seeing you every day and wouldn't be having the same experience without you. Use the ids as your inspiration to stay energized on the days when you're tired or upset about something. You're there for them and they will never forget you for it.
