As the summer nears it’s end, I find myself reflecting on my last few months since completing my program. Back in February before I even started the program, I knew I needed to do something over the summer that would make me happy. I decided to go back to my younger years and become a camp counselor at a day camp.
I had been there for several years when I was younger as a camper and then again later as a staff member. I knew the camp owner and directors would love to have me. I called them and was hired within a day. I was told by the director I initially spoke with that I was the “best hire of the day”, as they were at a job fair when I reached out, coincidentally.
As the spring came and went, I shared the challenges and my daily struggles that I repeatedly encounter. Following my program. I celebrated in early May and went to Disney World for a week my girlfriend. It was really the best way I could think of to put the exclamation on my hard work. As a teammate, she helped (and still helps) me with every single one of worries and does her best to understand me. I couldn’t have grown this year without her by my side. It was only fitting that she was the one walking around the Disney parks from the early morning hours to late in the evening, as we lived our best Disney vacation life.
As we came back I had about three weeks of time to myself before I started my camp job. I was very hesitant to work there and kept thinking “I am better than a simple camp job.” To ease my mind and give me options I applied and interviewed for some “better jobs” and did my best in each interview. Ultimately, I made it to later round interviews but was not offered a job. Camp it was. I later learned that simple jobs, don’t mean worse jobs.
As camp training started for the summer, I slowly felt more confident that I made the right choice in taking a step back and taking a more “simple job” this summer. I was a counselor for a group of ten boys who were all heading into kindergarten, each with their own personality. Within a day I had everyone’s name and face memorized, and we were off for an 8-week sprint for a great summer.
I learned again what made me happy. First and foremost, it was working hard and clearly having it pay off. I worked very hard to make sure each child grew and that their parents had made the right choice choosing the camp as the best option for their child. As a counselor for camp, it was part of my job to teach swim lessons. Many children learn to swim at camp. I had 4 campers refuse to put their heads into to water at the beginning of the summer. By the last week, with lots of bribing, I had those four children move up at least one swim level, which for some was just getting them comfortable with putting heads and face in water.
Additionally, I aimed to be the best employee and teammate at camp I could be. I showed up at 7:30am, completed various tasks so the directors didn’t have to use their valuable time doing them. By 8am, I would be the first face each camper at camp would see during drop off for the day. Regardless of how I was feeling I made sure that each camper and parent saw positivity and assurance that each day was going to be a good one. Camp ended for most staff at 4pm, and I would stay for after care until 5pm, when the very last child left camp. I was really the first to come, last to leave. It wasn’t until the end of summer staff party, when I truly felt that others saw and appreciated what I was doing every day. I won the superlative for “Most likely to go the extra mile”. I didn’t need approval from my peers to feel happy, but I sure appreciated a large majority of the other staff members writing in my name and recognizing my hard work.
Every parent said that their child “loved” having me as a counselor. But I said to the directors that as much as the campers’ great summer was largely shaped by my doing, my great summer was impacted by each camper and them growing so much by the end of the summer.
I started the summer camp job with a goal of growth. I knew I needed to build up confidence and prove to myself I can do a job with good work ethic and show myself I can once again work a full day job. I did that. I woke up every day by 6am and arrived at work by 7:30 and left at 5pm. I worked more in a summer than most people with an office job work in that time. I grinded everyday no matter the weather or how I was feeling. Of course, working as a camp counselor is different than an office job, but I proved to myself that I can work and do a great job at it.
As camp wrapped up last week, I had already thought about my post-camp life and work experience. Once again, it was uncertain. I am here today in a very similar situation as I have been in years past. Uncertain. Applying to jobs, hoping each one could be the answer I am hoping for. I am okay with it. I don’t know what will come of all the hard work in the short term or long term. I do know that I am on a better path than I was before the summer started. I set out to accomplish the goal of finding happiness and feeling proud of my work. I blew my goals away.
I started writing on this platform as a way for me to write about my thought and feelings and to keep it somewhere for me to see at later time. With the goal of growth and healing, I am still doing it the way that works for me.
I missed your writing! Thanks so much for sharing your summer with us. I look forward to the next chapter.
Loved reading this Jason; Glad you had a great summer -- fulfilling work and personal growth and resilience demonstrated. While it may be obvious, hope it also helps you think about what you really want in 'on-going work' - and impact you can have.