How Sleep-Away Camp Prepared Me For College | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

How Sleep-Away Camp Prepared Me For College

Peeing outside is a talent.

64
How Sleep-Away Camp Prepared Me For College
Carly Polay

Sleep away camp might have been the best decision my parents have ever made for me. Leaving your home for the summer and having that sense of "freedom" at such a young age really prepares you for the future. You learn to be independent and make your own choices, all that will help you in college. Shout out to Chipinaw for preparing me for life.

1. Peeing outside

Line for the bathroom too long at that frat party? You've been peeing outside since you were 8 years old. All your college friends who didn't go to camp are amazed at how this is a normal thing for you. Killing the game. Very lady like.

2. Communal bathrooms?

This is a breeze. Sharing a bathroom with way too many people was part of your whole childhood experience. You have no privacy, but this doesn't even phase you anymore. If you were that kid at camp who didn't have shower shoes, you were one nasty little shit. If you don't have shower shoes in college, you probably have some sort of STD going on.

3. Strange food

The dining halls have the weirdest things to eat, sometimes starving is just a better option. Camp taught me how to be a little Pinterest gal and make strange mixtures. Sugar and toast is always a good way to go.

4. Playlists

You know every song out there, the aux was born for you at this point. Throw on "Stacy's Mom" and everyone will be bowing down to you. You probably know every "throwback" to exist and that is all you need to succeed in life.

5. Living with other people

Bunks are much bigger than a dorm room, but your dorm room usually only has one or two other people. Is this a blessing or a curse? Either way you know how to respect peoples space and you probably have more patience than most freshmen.

6. "Homesick?"

What does this even mean at this point? As a kid, you got homesick because the camp food was just not for you, or you miss not wearing shower shoes. Your feet need to feel the water sometimes, I get it. I mean yeah, sometimes we miss being home, but we quickly realize that everything is just temporary. Once you go home, you'll want to be back at college.

7. Waking up early

Almost positive at camp breakfast was at 8am everyday, except the weekends. We didn't have a choice of not going to breakfast, so waking up for that 9am class now really isn't awful. Sorry to my counselors when I was younger, grumpiest morning person ever.

8. Themed parties

You've been making trendy outfits since you were 8 years old. Every themed dance at camp has prepared you for college. Halloween? You probably have at least 12 different ideas. Neon theme? Been there, done that 67 times.

9. Rush

Camp forces you to talk to complete strangers and make them your best friend, whether they want to be your friend or not. During rush, you start to play jewish geography and whoever is rushing you knows someone from your past. Being in a sorority is a lot like being in a big bunkhouse. Do you always like the people on the other side of the bunk? Nah. But you know how to tolerate people and play nice with everyone.

10. Rainy days

Your Hunters are your best friends. Rainy days at camp made me the happiest little nugget in the world. It sucks walking to class in the rain, but you've been preparing for this your whole life.

Sleep-away camp forces you to leave your little bubble of a life at a young age. College makes you completely pop that bubble, it's a brand new life. If I didn't go to camp, I don't know if I would really be able to conquer college. Thank you sleep-away camp for preparing me for whatever life throws at me.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

28 Daily Thoughts of College Students

"I want to thank Google, Wikipedia, and whoever else invented copy and paste. Thank you."

649
group of people sitting on bench near trees duting daytime

I know every college student has daily thoughts throughout their day. Whether you're walking on campus or attending class, we always have thoughts running a mile a minute through our heads. We may be wondering why we even showed up to class because we'd rather be sleeping, or when the professor announces that we have a test and you have an immediate panic attack.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

The Great Christmas Movie Debate

"A Christmas Story" is the star on top of the tree.

1994
The Great Christmas Movie Debate
Mental Floss

One staple of the Christmas season is sitting around the television watching a Christmas movie with family and friends. But of the seemingly hundreds of movies, which one is the star on the tree? Some share stories of Santa to children ("Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"), others want to spread the Christmas joy to adults ("It's a Wonderful Life"), and a select few are made to get laughs ("Elf"). All good movies, but merely ornaments on the Christmas tree of the best movies. What tops the tree is a movie that bridges the gap between these three movies, and makes it a great watch for anyone who chooses to watch it. Enter the timeless Christmas classic, "A Christmas Story." Created in 1983, this movie holds the tradition of capturing both young and old eyes for 24 straight hours on its Christmas Day marathon. It gets the most coverage out of all holiday movies, but the sheer amount of times it's on television does not make it the greatest. Why is it,
then? A Christmas Story does not try to tell the tale of a Christmas miracle or use Christmas magic to move the story. What it does do though is tell the real story of Christmas. It is relatable and brings out the unmatched excitement of children on Christmas in everyone who watches. Every one becomes a child again when they watch "A Christmas Story."

Keep Reading...Show less
student thinking about finals in library
StableDiffusion

As this semester wraps up, students can’t help but be stressed about finals. After all, our GPAs depends on these grades! What student isn’t worrying about their finals right now? It’s “goodbye social life, hello library” time from now until the end of finals week.

1. Finals are weeks away, I’m sure I’ll be ready for them when they come.

Keep Reading...Show less
Christmas tree
Librarian Lavender

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Christmas is one of my personal favorite holidays because of the Christmas traditions my family upholds generation after generation. After talking to a few of my friends at college, I realized that a lot of them don't really have "Christmas traditions" in their family, and I want to help change that. Here's a list of Christmas traditions that my family does, and anyone can incorporate into their family as well!

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

The 5 Phases Of Finals

May the odds be ever in your favor.

2583
Does anybody know how to study
Gurl.com

It’s here; that time of year when college students turn into preschoolers again. We cry for our mothers, eat everything in sight, and whine when we don’t get our way. It’s finals, the dreaded time of the semester when we all realize we should have been paying attention in class instead of literally doing anything else but that. Everyone has to take them, and yes, unfortunately, they are inevitable. But just because they are here and inevitable does not mean they’re peaches and cream and full of rainbows. Surviving them is a must, and the following five phases are a reality for all majors from business to art, nursing to history.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments