There are many jobs that people work throughout the summer. Especially college aged kids. Some work fast food, others may participate in some sort of internship, and then theres people like me who become summer camp counselors. Being a camp counselor means looking your worst 24/7 for two months straight, sweating more than you knew you could and looking like you just got out of the shower, working with children all day every day for little money, and getting zero sleep to the point where caffeine doesn't have an effect on you and you'll still knock out even after drinking espresso shots. It also means you get to spend your time making other kids happy, making sure they know they are loved, and learning more about yourself and growing into the person that you never imagined you would be. It's intimidating, requires much responsibility, and it is very rewarding in the end.
If you asked the majority of people my ago what they want to spend their summer doing, working a 24 hour job wouldn't be something you would often hear. Not many are willing to give up their summer, give up trips to the beach, and give up partying every night with their friends to spend their time with children and comforting homesickness and talking about the things they're into. And with that being said, being a camp counselor is definitely one of the most challenging jobs, and this job is not one that is made for everyone.
You have to have patience, and be willing to greet all types of kids with open arms. You have to be down to earth, ready to listen, and always be on your toes and prepared for the craziest things to happen (like a 6 year old forgetting to pull their pants down when they go to the bathroom). Yes, that happened.
Anyways. Being a camp counselor is a challenging job, it forces you out of your comfort zone in many ways and it allows you to grow in more ways than one that some would never even imagine themselves growing. You learn how to function off of no sleep, and you also learn that taking a bunch of 6 and 7-year-olds fishing it the worst idea possible and someone will be hooked by the end.
But you also learn that children are God's gift to us because of their innocence and willing to love and learn about the world, other people, and God. You learn how much they look up to you and how badly they want to grow up to be like you one day and you see pretty soon that this is a big deal. Camp counselors are huge influences in kids lives, and I am more than thankful to have the opportunity to be an example to many, many children this summer.