"Positivity, confidence, and persistence are key in life, so never give up on yourself."-Khalid8/18/2018 After graduation, I was unsure about my plans for the upcoming months. I was torn between working at the summer camp I worked at the previous summer or obtaining a job in the healthcare field. I had conversations with many people and the most obvious decision to many people was to work at the summer camp. After weeks of reflection, I decided to work at the summer camp because it was likely that this may be the last chance I ever get to do this job again. As the summer comes to an end, I am beyond thrilled that I made this decision. This summer has proven to be one of the most rewarding summers filled with fun, friends, and networking (I'll get back to this concept shortly). I had many serious conversations with people who I now look at as mentors. I had a conversation with one of my directors about taking the leap of faith as I was hesitant to accept a new position. I had another conversation with another director about using the 1st year out of college to explore my options and keep an open mind. The first reason I consider this summer one of the best summers is because of the amazing children I got to work with and how much they kept me on my toes. Children always seem to remind me of my purpose in life and make me realize I have one of the coolest jobs ever. This summer I was able to learn more about myself and my capabilities. I was offered two promotions this summer, one being the OT coordinator and the second being an Activity Specialist for the senior campers. As I stepped into both positions, I was extremely nervous, unsure, and kept doubting myself. These feelings I experienced were 5 weeks ago and as I approach week 10 of camp I no longer have those feelings. I now know that I am capable of being a leader, conveying meaningful messages, thinking on the spot, and working with children from the ages of 3-15 years old. I now know that I am capable of adjusting my teaching style to different personalities. I now know that I am a person who is capable of influencing children and even counselors my age. I now know that it is okay to not always know the answer. I now know that it is okay to ask for help and often times people actually want to help you (MIND BLOWN). These promotions made me realize that I'm great at many things and I should utilize these skills going forward. I say all of this to say, take the leap, no matter how big, no matter how small. It's incredible what the smallest leaps and changes can do for your growth as a person. Now, back to the networking aspect of it all. My main focus going into work as a camp counselor was not "networking" , but somehow it became apart of my journey. Outside of working at camp, I have built meaningful relationships with my campers which resulted in multiple babysitting jobs outside of camp. This has allowed me to build relationships with parents who actually care about my future goals and aspirations. As a result of many close-knit relationships, I have landed an opportunity to shadow a hand surgeon, physical therapists, and physical assistants. This will allow me to pinpoint my future desires and gain experience needed for professional school. Throughout my 4 years of college I was constantly reminded of the phrase "It's not about WHAT you know, it's about WHO you know." At this point in my life, this is the one quote that holds a lot of weight. You choose your journey. Your path does not have to be a replication of the next person's path. Enjoy the journey, reflect on failures, and celebrate successes. Remain humble. Do things for YOU. Stop attempting to fulfill the desires of other people. This is your life and you have to live it. Prepare for the life you want to live. Use your resources. Network. Accept change. Help those around you. BUT YOU STILL HAVE TO WORK. NEVER STOP WORKING. Chase your passions. Tackle your bucket list. -The Jay-Word
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