I finished one of the most exhausting and rewarding summers yet.

I was a camp counselor.

Three months of playing games, singing songs, swimming, running, jumping and sleeping like a rock every night. It was hard, but I loved it. There are a few things I got to do as a camp counselor that I don't think I would have done anywhere else.

I got to work with kids of all ages.

I was a floater, so I got to go from group to group with kids ranging from ages five to 12. This was different for me, since I usually worked with teenagers at my job while I'm at school. Adjusting was weird, but by the second week, I was running around with the kindergartners all day long and having a blast.

I learned how to discipline different kids.

Kids are all unique, so each kid needs different responses to good and bad behavior. When working with teenagers, I learned that this is hard to do because they are more focused on what is "fair" and "equal." With younger kids, only certain punishments work. And with some, punishments don't seem to work at all. Positive reinforcement is important. That is something I really worked on with these kids.

I got my teacher voice.

During the first few weeks of camp, I would literally be screaming and the kids wouldn't even look at me. It's like I was yelling at a brick wall. The other counselors told me that I needed my "teacher voice." One day, a few boys decided to tackle one of the girls during free time and I yelled to get them off of her. I silenced the whole camp. After I sat them in timeout, I came back to the shelter and one of my coworkers said, "There's that teacher voice."

I got to teach kids new things.

I sang so many silly songs I got sick of them. I almost completely ran out of string to make friendship bracelets. But it was so worth it to be able to see the kids laughing and smiling while they sang or when they finally figured out how to make the knots correctly. One camper even gave me the first bracelet he ever finished.

I was more active than ever.

I lost more weight than I ever have in my life this summer. Trying to keep up with the kids was hard, so I started running again. Not to mention swimming every day for two hours and being outside in the heat for a majority of the day. I had so much fun and I was getting healthier without even realizing it.

I laughed. So much.

Kids are HILARIOUS. I have so many stories about the funniest things that some of my campers did. Like the time that one of the campers was racing a counselor and fell, lifted his head up and yelled, "I need my pit crew!" Or the time that the campers washed my car and told me to ignore the body in the trunk. I got an ab workout on a daily basis just from laughter.

I worked with amazing people.

My coworkers are seriously the greatest. I had a group of people that I knew would always have my back, and would be there for me so I could tap out if I was having a not-so-great day. There must be something about spending 30+ hours a week in the 90+ degree weather while chasing children together that makes you bond.

I spread some love.

I got so many hugs today, even from the kids who I had to be hard on some days. Being a kid is hard, and sometimes they just need an escape from the confusion that is school and home. I loved that I got to be a part of that escape. I hope that I brightened their world even half as much as they brightened mine.