Written by: Samantha Fullmer
I’ve worked as a girl’s camp counselor for four years, which means four summers of six hours of sleep each night, too much coffee and dealing with kids who lack common sense. Each day at camp starts at 6 a.m. (one week started at 5:30) by getting the campers ready. Then I have to participate in their daily activities, manage evening showers and deal with homesickness, nightmares and sleepwalkers, only to finally crawl into bed around midnight to do it all over again the next day.
So why do I keep going back? Simple: there’s nothing like knowing you’re improving lives. However, there is no way on earth I could keep going back if I didn’t have these five tips in my back pocket. Not only can these suggestions help out a camp counselor, but they are also some of the only reasons I have survived life in general.
- Pray for others, especially those you may not like.
We’ve all heard the verse about praying for our enemies, but I didn’t fully understand it until I had a camper who refused to listen. It was easy to pray for her to be moved to another cabin or sent home (a terrible prayer for any counselor), but the real challenge was asking God to help me love her as He does. In doing so, my attitude changed toward her and she ended up becoming one of my favorite campers. Praying for others not only intercedes for them but also changes our hearts, giving us the perspective to love everyone — even when they make those annoying “you’re not my mom” comebacks.
- Expect the unexpected.
Worrying is never fun, and neither is having your plans fall apart. At camp, things can change in minutes, and I’ve learned to go with the flow, even when I’m unprepared. Flexibility allows me to do anything God asks on the spot, without stressing over plans unraveling. In a world where people act with free will, things will happen beyond our control. Being adaptable helps me focus on what truly matters without sweating the small stuff.
- Complain to the person who can make the change.
It’s easy to vent to a friend about a person, policy or program we don’t like. It helps release negative emotions; however, ranting to the wrong person can cause harm and spread negativity, leading to teams falling apart and undermining what really matters. By contrast, when we “complain” to the right person, we can make things change. Not only will that get rid of unsavory feelings, but it will change the circumstances where those emotions came from in the first place.
- Be comfortable with being uncomfortable.
Being comfortable with discomfort means stepping outside your comfort zone and sitting with tough emotions. Every summer, some campers shared stories of abuse or trauma, and my instinct was to quickly comfort them and move on.
But when I allowed myself to sit with my discomfort and fully listen, I saw God use me to help change a life. When we sit with those emotions of sadness, fear, anxiety or even boredom without looking for solutions, we will learn about ourselves and see God move in ways we could never have imagined.
- Have fun!
I learned early on that my campers struggled to enjoy themselves when I was feeling down, so my motto for the past three years has been, “When I’m having fun, the kids are having fun.”
This principle also applies to life: start with yourself to positively impact those around you. Struggling with a research paper? Turn it into a game. Need encouragement? Offer support to others. Choosing happiness can be challenging, especially during stressful times, but that choice can make a significant difference for you and those around you.
In the end, surviving as a camp counselor — or in life — comes down to a few key principles. Praying for others, even when it’s tough, keeps our hearts open. Expecting the unexpected and being flexible allows us to navigate whatever life throws. Complaining to the right person makes for real change while learning to sit with discomfort helps us grow. And most importantly, having fun helps us stay positive and brings joy to those around us.
These tips don’t just help me survive camp; they’ve also become my blueprint for facing life with grace, patience and purpose. I hope they can do the same for you.
