This summer is the first ever where I have had a full-time job that isn't related to my college major of Hospitality Management. For years now I have worked with event planners and in the restaurant industry during my summer vacations, not any more. This year I strayed from the typical and took a job no one expected me to: a camp counselor.
Those who know me well know I have never wanted to be a teacher, I've never wanted my own kids, and I'm the first person in public to roll my eyes when kids are misbehaving. So, why would I choose a job where I work with dozens of kids, five days a week, all summer long? Honestly, I could not tell you why I took it but I am so glad that I did.
Situation: You're Outside All Day
Pros: you never miss a sunny June, July or August day. Your mood is never bad because you're constantly taking in Vitamin D and fresh air. You never feel like you need makeup because your skin always has a healthy, sunshine glow. Overtime you adapt to the sun and your need for sunscreen massively decreases.
Cons: Being in 90+ degree weather for 8 hours a day is exhausting and dehydrating. You get use to smelling like a giant foot when you come home from all of the sweating you have done over the course of the day. Your skin is covered in dirt. You're forever rocking the t-shirt and shorts tan.
Situation: You Work With Kids
Pros: You'll never stop laughing because their filters haven't developed yet and the things they say are truly priceless. You feel loved and needed every day you show up and a dozen kids run up screaming your name and giving you hugs. You never get bored when talking to them, because each week you have new stories to hear and learn.
Cons: You may hear the same stories a few hundred times. Scraped knees, bloody noses, and shrieking are all part of the job. They aren't always the most obedient, with you or with each other.
Situation: You Go to Summer Camp
Pros: I mean, c'mon, you're getting paid to go to summer camp and relive your childhood. Water-slides, the YMCA trips, freeze pops every day, pizza day on fridays, playgrounds, arts and crafts and more: you basically become a full sized child from Monday through Friday. Then, from Friday at 5pm to Monday at 9am: you get to be an adult again.
Cons: You're a 16-20 year old who's going to summer camp and making the same arts and crafts as 5-12 year olds and watching the same guest performances as well. So yes, it can sound awesome but you're also being mentally reverted back into a kid. Which is exhausting in itself because now you have to watch your language and understand the new dialect of "child."
Situation: It's Week-to-Week
Pros: Most, but not all, camps offer their programs on a weekly basis. This means that kids can come for whatever weeks they want and however many their family desires. A major pro to this is that if there is a child you aren't clicking well with, is getting on your nerves because they are too attached to your side, they aren't very obedient, etc. there's a possibility that they won't be returning next Monday. Same is true for possible coworkers you may not mesh well with: you, or them, may not be working the same weeks all the time.
Cons: The obvious con: the coworker you don't mesh well with or the child who just isn't one of your favorites may actually be returning the following Monday. Also, the ones you loved spending time with, may have only been around for one week.
While every job has its pros and cons, the job of a camp counselor is one I would not recommend for everyone. Although I love it, and look forward to every day of work, it takes a lot of patience, imagination, and self-awareness to do the job well. Your personality will change for almost every child depending on your relationship with them; and when there's 60 of them a week, you really have to be aware of how your words and behaviors can come across. You're in a strong role model position and it doesn't take long before you start noticing the kids copying your hairstyles or mannerisms (its scary what they can pick up on).
I'm so glad I took the chance on this job and am not looking forward to the end of August when I say good -bye to my Summer Adventures family. I never thought that children would help me learn so much about myself.
