Camp Counselor Experience

During the summer of 2009 I had the opportunity to work as a camp counselor at an all girls camp. It was my first job and as any teenager I was excited to make my own money to spend it on the latest fashions. My older sister had previously worked at the same camp and had already prepared me for what was to come but nothing could have prepared me for what was in store. Every week there was a new group of girls. This particular year the camp director decided to do something different by dedicating a week to a group of girls from a foster care facility in Rosemead California. Before the girls arrived we all gathered for additional training and what felt like more of a warning. The entire time I thought to myself if they are so bad why are we doing this? Why are we treating them any differently? It was presented to us at the meeting that all 70 girls were on medication and if not taken at the require time it may cause some outbursts and physical violence that can potentially become dangerous to their well being as well as our.

Myself and the director negotiated with her for two hours until I finally got her to come down. There were several outburst throughout the first couple of days until I decided to change my approach. Instead of always telling them what not to do and how to do things I sat down and just got to know them. What was missing in their life was just someone to talk to and show them affection. They spend their whole time in the group home and even attend school in the same facility. It was their first time they were outside of the group home which is why I understood the incident when the girl ran off the first day. I can't even imagine what its like to be in one place until 18 years of age or until someone adopts you. On the last day one of the girls asked me to adopt her and I felt so helpless since I was a child