Starting the summer before 6th grade, I spent 3.5 weeks of pure bliss every summer in Hendersonville, North Carolina. Camp Judaea not only contained my best friends, favorite counselors and crazy memories, but it became my second home. After four summers spent as a camper at CJ, and another as a counselor-in-training, this year I decided not to attend. And it was the worst mistake I could've made.

I told myself I'd stay home, get a well-paying summer job, build my resume, blah blah blah. "I'm getting older now," I kept saying. "I need to be doing things that will look good for my future." What I seemed to forget, however, was that some of the best lessons I learned in life, I learned at camp.

I didn't think how much I'd miss morning flagpole and dreading going to services. I wasn't considering the endless laughs that now I wouldn't experience every day from the silly things my campers would say. I forgot how much cooler the mountain air was than 90 degree Florida. Most importantly, I gave up the last summer I could've had at camp with my little sister, since this is her last year as a camper.

So, as the end of May approached and I saw people from my town and fellow campers I've known for years embark on the summer of a lifetime, here I was, getting ready to start a boring office job as one of the only people back in my small town for summer.

I know that as we grow, sometimes we do things we don't always want to do. Sometimes you HAVE to take that office job and "grow up". Sometimes we HAVE to say "no." Sometimes, though, we have to remember that the time to be young and have fun is now. Sure, I made it through the summer (but not without a few weekend get-a-ways), and sure, getting those paychecks every other week was great. But, I know I missed out on something that would've been amazing. I wish I could take back my decision, and wait until next summer to start my adulting.

We learn from our mistakes, and that will always be the case. Now I only have 2 summers left of my college career - one of which will be spent abroad, the other hopefully at an internship in New York.

So next time you're weighing your summer options, or aren't sure whether to take an extra summer to be a kid, do it. I promise it's better than living with Mom & Dad for another summer.