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Dream Job
Thanksgiving break has come and gone, and I know that a lot of people have started to think about sending resumes and cover letters to many different places in search for a summer job. After completing my sophomore year of college, I knew that I couldn’t possibly be ready for the real world quite yet. I knew that I wasn’t ready to make the commitment to take the train every morning at 7:30 a.m. downtown to the city of Chicago and work from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. like my mother does. I am still a kid, and even though I am 20-years-old, I still want to play all summer long. For the past 12 summers of my life, more than half my lifetime, I have traveled up to Minocqua, WI. Camp Agawak, my second home, has been standing for 90 strong years as an all-girls camp. Campers, ranging from the age of seven to 16, have grown up at this camp and have made lifelong friends and memories. I have met some of my best friends at camp and have also learned a lot about myself. Agawak is located in the north woods of Wisconsin, close to 10 hours away from U of I. Our camp participates in many community events, such as dancing in the 4th of July parade and volunteering in the local soup kitchen. After eight indescribable summers as a camper at camp, I began my journey as a camp counselor and vowed to teach my campers the same life lessons that my counselors had taught me. On staff, I have learned that the campers come first, and their happiness is more important than what is being served for lunch or which nights off you get during the week. Now, four years later on staff, I have assumed the position of Program Director for Camp Agawak. With great power comes great responsibility, and my job as a camp counselor and program director for a camp of close to 300 girls is a 24/7 job. Every day, I create and produce new ideas which are implemented in evening and daily programs. Using time wisely, asking for help when needed, and trusting my judgment, has allowed me to become a successful camp programmer. Everyone always says, “You don’t come back to camp for the money, you come back for camp itself,” and that statement couldn’t be more true. In college, we learn that we must rely on our independence to make new friends and wake up for class on time, but I believe that I got a head start because of my years at summer camp. Now, as I sit in my room at school, wondering what I will be doing this summer, I can’t help but think about the cool breeze off the lake and the incredible opportunity that camp can bring to your summer. So, if you’re looking for a summer job away from home with free room and board and in the beautiful north woods, then I would consider becoming an overnight camp counselor. One promise I can make is that a prospective boss would love to see overnight camp experience on your resume rather than time spent working in retail any day. Give camp a chance, and become a role model for not only others, but for yourself too!
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