I am working as the pool director this year. Basically I teach classes in the morning and I lifeguard open swims in the afternoons and evenings and make sure that the other pool staff is doing the same thing while we also keep the pool and the pool house locker rooms clean. This past week has been exhausting. Camp is always exhausting, it doesn't matter if you are a camper, an adult leader, or a staff member. Going to camp is tiring.
Over the weekend, I had to unclog a toilet that had been clogged intentionally. (Earlier this week it had had a sock in it.) I had to pick up boys underwear and socks from a locker room floor. I pulled trash that was floating in a trash can that had been outside in the rain. I cleaned out the bag from the pool vacuum (if you've never done this for an outdoor pool, trust me when I say it gets pretty gross). This week, I had a scout refuse to get into the pool for class, so he couldn't achieve any of the requirements the merit badge class he was in. I also cleaned out a funky-smelling refrigerator that is used by the staff members..
I really do love my job, but I sometimes I have to ask myself why, so here is the list that I came with upon reevaluation:
1.) I love kids.
They're hilarious. You never know what is going to come out of their mouths.
2.) My boss is a perfectionist.
This may not sound like a positive aspect to a job. In fact, it probably sounds like a major pain in the neck, but it isn't. My boss motivates me and the rest of the staff to strive toward perfection and do our best no matter what the job is. This will help us in jobs in the future, as we move on past working at camp.
3.) I love kids.
They watch everything adults do and mimic it. The wide variety of personalities that the boys display in the classes that I teach makes me think about Psychology and what causes people to act the way they do. 4.) I love to swim.
I have the opportunity to wake up at 5:30 every morning and swim a mile if the pool isn't too crowded! Call me weird, but that is just fantastic. It is great stress relief and provides me with time to contemplate without having to sit still.
5.) I love kids.
The way their swimming improves over just one week of classes is spectacular and reminds me of how malleable they are. Every little thing matters.
6.) I'm certified.
Working as a lifeguard means I've been trained in CPR and basic first aid, making me feel more prepared for emergency situations.
7.) It's a challenge.
I love a good puzzle. AP Calculus was my favorite class this past year. Why? It gets my brain working. Sometimes, when I am trying to explain a concept to a camper that is new, he doesn't get it right away and it is a challenge for him to get it. In these times, it's like a puzzle for me to figure out how to explain the concept in a way that he will understand it.
8.) I love kids.
(There might be a theme in this list.)
9.) It's hard work.
This is another point that may seem somewhat odd, but it really isn't. By working hard now, I'm learning how hard life will be later. I've never heard an adult say that they were happy about how easy a class or chore or job was when they were young. Rather, I hear gratitude about the difficult tasks, as those tasks prepared them for later in life.
10.) I love kids.
11.) Sponge Wars.
Picture dodge ball except with wet sponges instead of balls. And picture Staff Vs. Campers. And picture my face with war paint. And other staffers dressed up (In chicken suits, camouflage, cheerleader outfits, etc) Yeah. It's epic.
12.) I lovekids.
13.) Staff Friends.
Both years I have met new people who have been awesome. We all experience things together for six weeks and it's pretty incredible. We become close enough to trust each other and prank each other. We work together and we play in Sponge Wars together. We express frustrations about campers and life to each other. We aren't just coworkers. We're friends.
14.) I lovekids.
Seriously, I want to be a pediatrician. Children tend to be more forgiving, more gracious and happier than most adults I meet. They have a more positive outlook on life, and it is uplifting. Most of them are always willing to laugh. Most of them have a way of brightening a room when they come in.
15.) It's fun.
It's fun to get to know the campers. It's fun to work with fellow staff. It's fun to teach the classes. It's fun to swim a mile. It's fun to stay up late talking a playing card games with staff.
At camp, it's tiring. I'm exhausted. At camp, it's fun. I have had fun. At camp, it's crazy. A good crazy. At camp, I can work hard. At camp I can be a big kid. At camp, I can enjoy almost every minute.
Not only can I thank God for giving me a job, I can thank Him for giving me a job that I love! If you've had a rough day, I highly recommend making a list of your blessings. If you can't think of anything, start with the fact that you woke up, then maybe move onto the periodic table of elements (everything in the entire universe is made of of them). Don't be like the Israelites who wandered in the desert and forgot the blessings that God had given them. Choose to Praise God for what you have instead of dwelling on what you don't have. :) After all, you're breathing, aren't you?
Living in Reckless Abandonment for Jesucristo,
Jo
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