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The Big Decision Hands shaking, I unbuckled my seatbelt and pushed open the bright green rental car door. I looked up and took in the Tuscan building that would house me for the three weeks at camp. I heard the sound of kids laughing, cars rumbling along the sloped pavement, and the movement of suitcases being scraped across the asphalt. Kids and parents alike rushed in and out of the dorm building, and I couldn’t help but feel like I made a huge mistake. From this camp I gained the courage and responsibility I would have to possess to face the cruel and unforgiving world. I got the crisp white letter in the mail with my name typed on the front of it in black bold letters. My dad gave it to me on a regular Thursday night after he ventured to our mailbox in …show more content…
I nod my head with excitement and confusion, feeling like I just won the lottery but also feeling like a lost puppy not knowing what to do. Weeks went by and one night I steeled my courage and walked up to my parents to tell them my decision. “I’ll do the camp,” I announced with the courage I had summoned to make my decision. My parents hugged me and told me they were proud of my decision. I nodded along with them, but all I could think and feel was that I had made a grave mistake. Weeks flew by faster than ever, with everything passing in a blur. I didn't think about it in those weeks, deciding that I would deal with it when it came. Suddenly it was July, the time my camp started, and I felt all uneasy and tense again. My mom, Grace (best friend), and I traveled in an airplane to Florida, where my camp was to be, and it felt too close. I didn’t want to go anymore. I had changed my mind. But I wasn't allowed to back out now, I had made my decision months ago and everything was paid for already. I would do it, but only because I was to afraid and to invested now to leave it all
I never wanted to leave. I truly thought my life was ending on that August day in 2010 as the Peter Pan bus pulled off the dirt bumpy road in New Hampshire on its trek back to the Bloomingdales parking lot in Connecticut. The night before, I stood on the shore of New Found Lake looking out at the horizon on my last night, arm and arm with my sisters, tears streaming down our faces as our beloved director quoted, "You never really leave a place you love; part of it you take with you, leaving a part of yourself behind." Throughout the years, I have taken so much of what I learned those seven summers with me. I can undoubtedly say that Camp Wicosuta is the happiest place on earth; my second and most memorable home. Camp was more than just fun even as I smile recalling every campfire, color-war competition, and bunk bonding activity I participated in. It was an opportunity to learn, be independent, apart of an integral community, and thrive in a new and safe environment. I recognize that camp played an essential role in who I am today.
It was our fifth day in the Philmont Scout Reservation in New Mexico, the halfway point of the trek. I as the Crew Leader was responsible for the other 11 members of the crew, including 4 adults. I was in charge, and amazingly the adults rarely tried to take over, although they would strongly advise me what to do in some situations. Phil, with the exception of me, the oldest scout and the Chaplain for the trip, was my second. Together we dealt with problems of making sure everyone carried the right amount of stuff in their pack to who had to cook and cleanup each day. The trip had gone well so far, no injuries, and the worst problem had been a faulty backpack. As I walked I thought about the upcoming campsite. Supposedly this one had running water from a solar powered pump—so had the last night’s site but the tank was too low to use for anything but cooking because the of how cloudy it had been of late. But today was bright and shinny, and hot, so I didn’t think there would be a problem.
This life changing experience had taught me an important lesson. It’s taught me that I can’t let others opinions taint my decision’s, because in the end it’s my choose and I’m the one who has to live with the outcomes. Not only that I’ve also learned that sometimes scary’s good and if you learn to welcome it you never know what will happen as a
A calm crisp breeze circled my body as I sat emerged in my thoughts, hopes, and memories. The rough bark on which I sat reminded me of the rough road many people have traveled, only to end with something no one in human form can contemplate.
I was deserting my old life while at the same time preparing myself to greet a new one. On my 6 hour flight I began to consider the possibilities for this new life and remember the true reason why my parents and I suddenly uplifted ourselves. Over time I realized It was a necessary decision which I am now happy to have made. In conclusion I will admit that I will never know what the alternative outcome may have been, but when I look back I am able to realize that no matter the decision like continues
... ever had to do. Who knew it would be so difficult to leave those people who shaped the person you are today? I had to face the people that I loved so much and say good bye. I knew I would see them again, but somehow that wasn’t a comforting thought. The only thing I could seem to think of was how hard it was to leave and how excruciating it felt. This experience has left a huge impression on my life. I realized how much I love my life and the people in it. I recognized the fact that this was me, growing up and becoming an adult. I also finally understood the meaning of “family.” Even though I was leaving my home of eighteen years, I knew I still had a wonderful place to return to.
When we got to our destination the guard told us to sit down and not move then he walked over to another guard and asked if everything was ready, Mina was trembling and every time she shivered and cried I felt it. When the guard came back he yelled at us to get back in the car that there wasn’t enough bullets for everyone, so we did what he commanded us to do. We got sent back to the same ghetto we were before in but this time it was less cramped which a lot of people have lost their lives. Mina cried when she got off and I felt every single one of her tears fall on me wiping some of the mud off me. We have been a week in the ghetto when all of a sudden the guards started yelling in German saying that we had to get in the car but this time it was different I just felt it. I was right. We were going to be sent to a different camp called, Stutthof. When we got to Stutthof it was even muddier and even horrible. The first step Mina took off the car all I felt was the coldness and the wetness of the mud it was also raining which made it even
Tomorrow, I thought to myself. I was not ready to leave all the memories and laughter I had lived. I felt like I was leaving a piece of me behind, I told myself that I could not turn back. I had to move forward to start a new chapter of my life. At that moment, I began to hope and mostly believe in new possibilities. As I woke up, tears were falling down my face. I couldn’t believe that I was going to leave my hometown, my native land, my motherland. I had no words to describe the desolation I felt. My body tightened; immersed in my despair I finally decided to go and take a cold shower and brush my teeth. I had confusing and anxious thoughts. I was feeling defeated because I couldn’t do anything about it anymore but at the same time as a natural optimist, I was
As my eyes squinted open, trying to adjust to the sudden consciousness, light streaming through the windows straight into my eyes. I became aware of the pit in my stomach, threatening to swallow me whole. I rushed out of the cabin in fear of missing breakfast, although a YMCA camp in the middle of the mountains serves food like something I would find at my school cafeteria. I had only three days with these amazing people that I only see once a year and I planned on making every second count.
It started like any other day up on the hills of Rhein, but that day had the scent of freedom floating in the air. The journey ahead of me had been teasing me for weeks, I was just so anxious to get away and start all over again. I had made certain arrangements before I left, our family dog was not allowed on the ship that we were going to be arriving in America, so I had my parents take care of the dog for us. It was a hard thing to do seeing that the dog had become more than just a pet to the children and I, for we almost would recognize him as a family member. Most of our possessions we were able to keep with us, but we had to keep the load light since it was going to be a tight stay in the steerage. I wasn’t sure of what to expect in America, but my friend Niva had been writing me ever since she had arrived in America; begging me to witness the splendor of freedom given, and the different way of living. I was easy to be convinced into going because it seemed like nothing was really happening in my life, and I was desperate for a change.
The sound of the train’s wheels chugging across the tracks had long become monotonous. Looking out the window I saw trees quickly passing by; I only had a small sealed suitcase with a few marks in money and a photograph. In the picture was the last family portrait my family took before I had to leave Poland. There were about 200 other children on the train headed to England. We all left our beloved home country to escape the danger that might lie ahead. My parents told me that it would only be until the end of summer, like boarding school, and I would be back in no time.
I felt as though I needed to do what I had to do to provide myself with everything I needed, including those things that I was not used to having to provide. I felt as though my parents did not force me to move so I should not have had to call on them to help and send money to me while I was there. It was my decision to go and it was decision to do the things that I did while I was there. Nor did I want to be that family member that was living off other family and depending on them to supply me with the things that I needed knowing I was well and capable of getting it all on my own. It was time for me to act like adult and fast. I had to become self- reliant and do a lot more for myself than what I was used to
As I stated before, Mom passed over in June. It was the hardest time in my life. But the decisions that I made, where made in the hope that I was doing the right thing.
On Friday, I had felt as if the whole week went by as fast as lightning, and I had wished that this amazingly enjoyable week at Nature’s Classroom could have lasted longer. We had eaten our last few meals at Nature’s Classroom and we knew that this wonderful week at Nature’s Classroom was coming to an end. Soon, I had found myself seated, once again, on the colorfully upholstered seats of the bus. I had thought about how marvelous of a week this was and how much I have enjoyed all of the various activities done together. I was filled with sorrow at the fact that the week had come to a close. However, I realized that while the week had seemed to go by so quick, at least I had made the best of it, enjoying every single last second of the amazing adventure known as Nature’s Classroom.
When I open my eyes and see the bottom of the top bunk I think to myself, "day one of week five." At 7:00, the alarm goes off and I heard the grumbling of eight junior high girls as they start to slowly climb out of their beds half awake. "Rise and shine and give God the glory glory." As my typical morning song continues, I get eight sets of glares from my campers. For some reason it just makes me smile. "I wish I had my blow dryer." "I really want my make up." The usual teenage comment I hear the first day. "Five minutes to finish getting ready before Alpha!" I yell, "I'll meet everyone out side of the cabin!" I found my way outside Mt. Horeb cabin sitting on the picnic table just smiling to myself for no particular reason.