The amber sun was setting as I ran around the crackling campfire, chasing after my friends. I was eight years old and a camper at Dry Gulch USA. My week at camp was packed full of activities—canoeing on the swampy lake, running across the sand in a game of volleyball, horseback riding through the grassy forest—but above all the events at camp, I remember one thing: my camp counselor. My counselor seemed to make all my cares vanish. She encouraged me as I expressed the things that caused my worry, and urged me to try the new things that intimidated me. As camp drew to a close and I boarded the bright yellow, musty bus to ride home, I wanted to do these exact things for someone else. In that moment, I decided to become a camp counselor when…show more content… The surgery to remove his brain cancer was successful and as radiation commenced, I felt the need stay home to ensure the wellbeing of my family. Dad noticed my unusual antisocial behavior and invited me to accompany him to his monthly checkup. I agreed to go.
I walked into the examining room to see a wall lined with dark images of a brain, dad’s brain. I stared at dad’s MRIs and was amazed. The dim, squiggly lines I saw inside dad’s head drew my curiosity. When we returned home, dad showed me numerous MRIs of his brain and explained to me what was depicted. Every day after that moment, I pursued science however I could: high school science classes, biology books, and online videos teaching me what school did not. Despite my infatuation with science, my primary desire still remained: to counsel at Dry Gulch USA. On April 4, 2016, my dream came true. I received the email informing me that I was a hired counselor. That summer, I was able to provide hope and encouragement to 181 precious girls between the ages of 7 and 12. I spent every waking moment with my campers, discussing everything under the sun or leading a small group. The influence I held that summer was beyond any I expected. I was taught to be a gentle leader and a ready listener. Above all, I discovered my passion: to help children uncover their
