Anna Schiffer

Being a camp counselor the past three summers has been the most rewarding experience of my life, but I didn’t feel that way until recently. I spent 11 summers at my camp, and I was fortunate to have counselors who were life changing role models. Camp was where I learned how to step out of my comfort zone. Whether it’s dancing alone like nobody’s watching, building fires, or trying a scary zipline, I did it all for the first time at camp.

I couldn’t wait to be a counselor, because I wanted to give back to camp. However, when I got there it became something more difficult than I expected. I was responsible for ten 11 year old girls, and my co-counselor was never around so I had to supervise myself. The classic “middle school drama” would turn ugly quickly. I was working 24/7 and helping my campers with their physical and mental needs-and more. The director didn’t give me support, and I felt heartbroken that camp wasn’t caring for me in the same way now that I’m not a camper.

The following summer I got a call from camp offering me my dream age group of campers for treating me poorly previously, so I gave it another try. I was given an amazing group of 14 year old girls. I gave my all to the job. It was exhausting, but the connections that I built with each of them have lasted; I still get calls and texts all the time asking for advice. However, it was a hard time for me personally. I was dealing with a lot of social anxiety, which affected how I worked with other staff, and I left again feeling unfulfilled.

This summer, I returned with the goal of being a role model for campers, but also to other staff. This summer was the icing on the cake. I was with the oldest campers, 16 year olds, and after my first year of college had found a stronger confidence in myself that I was ready to show at camp. I had again made countless connections, and was even told by current campers, past campers, and staff, that I had changed their lives. Every summer I return, I am faced with new challenges and grow in ways I couldn’t have imagined. Being able to see how all of my work over the last three years left a mark on a place that gave me so much was the defining moment for me. As I leave camp and move on to other adventures in my life, I will remember all the takeaways, but especially how important my integrity is, even when it feels like nobody is watching.