Selfless Service Pays
For the three summers that were part of my college career, I
decided to go against the social norm. Working at a summer camp is hard. The
hours are rough, the privacy is minimal, the pay is weak, and the tasks are
tiring; but the relationships made, the lessons that are learned, and the job
well done make this experience a priceless memory that could not be developed
any place other than Sky Ranch.
The biggest lesson that I learned at camp over three summers of working there is that selfless service is rewarding in itself. I spent the last two summers working as a family camp counselor, which was great. I got to become an extra member of 16 different families and was able to serve them with my time. Over those 20 total weeks of camp I learned what it means to consider others over myself and to work to the best of my ability to make their experience the best that it can be. There were many trials and tribulations along the way, however the gratification that comes at the end of the week, when you see kids and parents wanting to stay, far surpasses any hardships that were in my way. One clear example that comes to mind was my second summer around week 3. At camp we have three main activities that the families can do throughout the week. These are the ropes course, kayaking, and horseback riding; they are all pretty tiring experiences but the ropes course wears you out, no matter what your normal energy level is like.
I remember week 3 ropes better than any other ropes day though. It was Wednesday the third day of camp, and it is honestly right around that time when you start losing your restful feeling that you got back the last weekend. The family I had that week was a little younger than most, which I didn’t mind, I like younger kids, they are just more fun. We had just hiked to the top of the mountain where the ropes course was when I was assigned to work the power pole, a 30 ft. telephone pole that you climb to the top of and then jump off and try to catch a trapeze bar that is around 10 ft. diagonal from the top of the pole. One of my younger boys that week was adamant about doing the pole, so I felt completely comfortable putting him up there. However, when he finally climbed to the top and got onto the box, he froze. For 55 minutes I stood on the ground, 30 ft. below this 6-year-old child, holding the end of the rope that he was tied to. For 55 minutes, we tried to talk this child off of the box but couldn’t. For 55 minutes we waited.
The boy made it down safe. The smile on his face was from ear to ear when he finally got to hold his mother again. On Friday night, we got to sit down as a family and this 6-year-old boy told his parents and I that he learned what having courage was that week. That moment could not be measured in work hours.
It isn’t always the big things that leave impressions on people. Sometimes when you just put yourself aside, consider other’s well beings more than your own, and hold onto the rope that is supporting them; the results turn out to be the most impactful moments of your life. That week I learned this, and was able to assist a young child in his personal growth also. This experience was worth much more than a large paycheck. I continue to use this mindset when meeting with younger men in the fraternity. I always push them to be strong and be the man that God has called them to be. Helping younger men like that in college has made my last year feel much more significant.
The biggest lesson that I learned at camp over three summers of working there is that selfless service is rewarding in itself. I spent the last two summers working as a family camp counselor, which was great. I got to become an extra member of 16 different families and was able to serve them with my time. Over those 20 total weeks of camp I learned what it means to consider others over myself and to work to the best of my ability to make their experience the best that it can be. There were many trials and tribulations along the way, however the gratification that comes at the end of the week, when you see kids and parents wanting to stay, far surpasses any hardships that were in my way. One clear example that comes to mind was my second summer around week 3. At camp we have three main activities that the families can do throughout the week. These are the ropes course, kayaking, and horseback riding; they are all pretty tiring experiences but the ropes course wears you out, no matter what your normal energy level is like.
I remember week 3 ropes better than any other ropes day though. It was Wednesday the third day of camp, and it is honestly right around that time when you start losing your restful feeling that you got back the last weekend. The family I had that week was a little younger than most, which I didn’t mind, I like younger kids, they are just more fun. We had just hiked to the top of the mountain where the ropes course was when I was assigned to work the power pole, a 30 ft. telephone pole that you climb to the top of and then jump off and try to catch a trapeze bar that is around 10 ft. diagonal from the top of the pole. One of my younger boys that week was adamant about doing the pole, so I felt completely comfortable putting him up there. However, when he finally climbed to the top and got onto the box, he froze. For 55 minutes I stood on the ground, 30 ft. below this 6-year-old child, holding the end of the rope that he was tied to. For 55 minutes, we tried to talk this child off of the box but couldn’t. For 55 minutes we waited.
The boy made it down safe. The smile on his face was from ear to ear when he finally got to hold his mother again. On Friday night, we got to sit down as a family and this 6-year-old boy told his parents and I that he learned what having courage was that week. That moment could not be measured in work hours.
It isn’t always the big things that leave impressions on people. Sometimes when you just put yourself aside, consider other’s well beings more than your own, and hold onto the rope that is supporting them; the results turn out to be the most impactful moments of your life. That week I learned this, and was able to assist a young child in his personal growth also. This experience was worth much more than a large paycheck. I continue to use this mindset when meeting with younger men in the fraternity. I always push them to be strong and be the man that God has called them to be. Helping younger men like that in college has made my last year feel much more significant.