Self Reflection

But the summer after ninth grade made me rethink my options. My best friend’s dad was in charge of a summer camp for underprivileged children. He needed some junior counselors for the week, so we volunteered to help; we wouldn’t mind

It all started at the end of last summer. I'm the Drum Major of my school’s band, and for that reason, I was the most nervous I had ever been in my life. At any one point, there were over 150 people watching my every move, and it was nerve-racking. Last summer, they watched me through the hardest time of my entire life. I was given the position in April, but until August, it was essentially just a title.

Nine years ago, my parents dropped me off at overnight camp for the first time ever. Wow, nine years ago… that’s just hard to think about. Anyways, I do not remember much about that first summer, but it must have been fun because I came back the next summer, then again, and again, and again, and again, and, while, you get the point. I really liked it there. Back then, I would not have been able to explain what I loved about camp so much. I would have said something like “my great friends” or “all the sports we play,” but now I understand it means so much more than that. If I was to explain all the memories I made on that hillside throughout my seven year career as a camper, this essay would be well over 650 words, so I will refrain from doing so. Instead, I will talk about my transition from camper to counselor and how it helped me realize the importance of giving back.

The program started on a crisp, fall afternoon in October. I climbed eagerly out of my car and stepped onto the damp grass of the Joyce soccer field. This complex had been my second home for the last seven years. All the blood, sweat, and tears I had put into training here, building up my skill set. I was snapped back into reality as my mom pulled out of the parking lot and back into the street. I waved goodbye and made my way

Firstly, I took part in the Pan American Games in Toronto. This was a momentous achievement to be in a group of 20,000 volunteers charged with making these games memorable. Even though Toronto has failed at bidding for the Olympics, I took it upon myself to push myself to be the best in whatever role I received. I managed to get Seating Captain & Athlete Marshall. In this role I had the chance to interact with both athletes and the public at all 4 extravagant

In 2016, I interviewed to be a part of the Louisiana State Food and Fitness Board. Fortunately, I was awarded one of twenty spots. Each year, we plan many activities, but my personal favorite is an overnight camp that allows other teens to participate in exercises and gain information about health issues in today’s society. Even though I’m a group leader and organizer, I still learn new things just like the campers! My

The summer started off with a bang. From Holiday World, to volleyball, to relaxing poolside… it was the life. That all came to a halt when I had to get a…*gulp*…job.

I remember my freshman year of orientation quite vividly. We had recieved our class schedules for the year , a few weeks before school was to commence. The moment I glanced at my schedule, there appeared a glaring mistake that protruded from the agenda. I was allotted Leadership class sixth period with Ms.Hanson; a class that I had no intention on taking, and a teacher whom I heared only middle schoolers whisper about. My heart skipped a beat but being the very timid freshman that I was, I did not request a change. Summer passed, nerves heightened, final goodbyes to middle school life were had and from there I discovered what it takes to be a leader.

To begin with, when I first started my internship with the Shake It Up-After School program, I honestly didn’t know what to expect. On one hand, I knew that my knowledge from last year would allow me to prepare for this year; but on the other hand, I also had to remember that this year would be different since I was taking on a leadership role. Although I wasn’t assertive at the start of the program, I was privileged enough to work side by side with people who were. Janne Knight for example, was the other co-director of Lowell elementary school and had been for the past two years. With that in mind, I turned to her and, Dr. Matthew Hansen for enlightenment until I felt comfortable enough to take the lead.

If you were to ask the new sixth grader waltzing into FCS that breezy September day what she thoughts she’d be like in three years, I can assure you I’m not it. But looking back at these past few years, I couldn't be happier with who I've become. Within the 1,000 days I’ve been a student here, I’ve struggled, I’ve flourished, I’ve crumbled, and I’ve built myself back up inside these very walls. My thoughts, my wants, my dreams, my friends, my joys… It’s all evolved.

Columbia Youth Adventurers will also be close to my heart. Mentoring low-income youth and providing them cultural access outside of their surroundings parallels my own experiences. I understand the importance of bringing the world into children’s lives and by volunteering with Youth Adventurers I can pay this importance forward. Due to my experience in similar programs; I understand first-hand the

I scanned my room and noticed that Bobby was not bothering other students, but was diligently working at his desk on the assigned task. I thought back to the beginning of the school year when it was a challenge to get him to be motivated to work on his own or with a group of peers. I was in awe of the changes he’d made to be motivated about learning and controlling his mood, attitude, and behavior when redirected. Looking at my students, I was elated, knowing that I’d poured my passion into educating them, helping model for them ways to be productive citizens both inside and outside the classroom. It was my hope that my students would reflect on the year and the many things they’d learned by applying the strategies we’d practiced on a daily basis. As I thought about some of the challenges that I’d faced personally and professionally during the year, I was content with knowing that I’d grown and learned much more about myself and my students because God afforded me a spectacular experience. Forging ahead in anticipation of another school year, I planned to take some time to grow professionally, as well as, take the necessary time to reflect on my experiences while spending time with those who mean the world to

For the duration of a summer, I spent my time living and working on a remote mountaintop in Pennsylvania. As a Counselor at Outdoor Odyssey Leadership Academy, I had the responsibility of mentoring youth through personal growth and development. We took pride in being a different kind of summer camp. At Outdoor Odyssey, participants’ mental and physical comfort zones would be pushed. The common rhetoric was that we did not sit around “painting rocks and singing Kumbaya” like all other summer camps. Such mentalities were driven into us by the Director of Operations during our two-week intensive staff boot camp.

My experience as a college coach cannot be summed up in a few words. This summer has been one of the most life-changing, challenging, and exciting times I have ever experienced. Throughout my interactions with students, staff, and beyond, I have found in myself an immense gratitude for everything I have and have done. I also found, where I once thought I was passive and a pushover, that I can be active, take initiative, and be brave in harrowing situations.

In the summer of 2016, I moved away from home and worked at a summer camp for three months. Over those three months, I learned more about myself than I had at any time after elementary school. This self-realization has helped me find a passion for the things I do now and for everything I want to do in the future.