When I was a kid, I spent every summer at a sports camp. This camp also had a Recreational Therapy camp for kids with special needs on its campus. There were two campers who were able to spend their days with us, and they would sit next to me during morning meeting. One day, one of the boys struck up a conversation. I was shocked at first, but then pleasantly surprised at how easily conversations could flow between us.
Flash forward eight years. I just finished my first official summer working at the very same Recreational Therapy camp. When school started, I realized I didn't want to a year without seeing these kids, so once a week during my free period I volunteer in some of their classes to spend time with them. Over the last few months, I've had many people tell me how great I am of a person or how nice of me it is to do this. But honestly, it makes me no different or more special than the next person.
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These last few months, I’ve seen the way their eyes light up when they're flying over the water on a tube. The smile they get when they make that goal or basket. How proud they are when they get a counselor out in dodgeball without us purposely letting them. I've heard them laugh so hard while telling us a joke that they can't even finish it. Truthfully, nothing makes me happier than spending time with our kids. When I was having a bad day, my camper tapped me on the shoulder and in his way asked me what was wrong. When I need to smile, another little boy can cheer me up by letting me play Lion King with him. A nickname given to me by one camper became a name that I came to answer to more than my real one, and it makes me smile every time I hear it.
For six weeks I worked with a little boy to whom speaking came difficult and could only communicate through basic sign language and the word “Papa.” With the help of another counselor and a hearing camper fluent in ASL, we were able to teach him how to sign more. Even better, by the end of camp we had my camper speaking more words than he started with, clear as day. Every time he would say hi to me instead of wave, I knew there's nothing else I'd rather do. To me, this is what's amazing. Not spending time with special needs kids, but helping them develop skills they can always use.
What is nice is the bonds us counselors formed with the kids. When one camper lost a water shoe in the lake, one of my friends went in with goggles and looked for half an hour. When the same camper lost his Woody from Toy Story toy in the pool, every single one of us stopped what we were doing and dropped ( literally) to the side of the water until we found it. Every kid, even if they weren't our own camper, touched our hearts in a way that I know we would do whatever I could to make them happy. These kids are more than their diagnosis, they are our friends.
Everyday people with special needs are made fun of or discriminated against, and they do not deserve it. Over the last few months, I've had many people tell me how great I am of a person or how nice of me it is to do this. But honestly, it makes me no different or more special than the next person. Kids with special needs are just like any other child. They watch the same shows as us, like the same drinks, and enjoy apple cider donuts as much as anyone else does. Just because I chose to spend my summers out at camp with them does not make me a great person. All I am doing is treating another human being the way he or she deserves to be treated.
If anyone is the great person here, it is those kids and every other child out there with special needs. I don't know anyone else who will shake my hand when they meet me, or ask how I am every time I see them. When playing together, there is never a single person who they leave out of games. They are the most kind-hearted, pleasant, and honest ( admittedly, painfully honest) people in the world.
You might see it as something amazing- but to me, this is my everyday life. And I love it.
