Coming to Texas I was so excited but more nervous than I have ever been in my life. Three months later, I sit here reflecting on all of the smiles, laughter, and memories. My campers, partners, and fellow staff inspired me to write about my life changes this summer.
Camp is one of the most magical places in the world. Every summer time stops at camp. Nothing outside of the camp gates matters. When I look back I had fun and played games, I grew up, learned about myself and other people. But then I blinked, and summer is over.
Thank you Camp Aranzazu family for shaping me into the person that I am today and for teaching me more things than you know. You taught me how to care about every camper I come in contact with. You pushed me to learn patience and to have it not only with others but also myself. You taught me how to be selfless. Just as you do, you have taught me how to do everything in love. Y’all have taught me just as much as I have taught you. Thank you for being the funniest, most pure, and honest people I have ever met.
I was introduced to groups of people who I would call some of the greatest humans on the planet. Over the summer I became part of the most breathtaking and beautiful families. Thank you for allowing me to share my passions with y’all. Thank you for being the most cherished memories.
The friendships created, the bonds formed, the lessons learned, the amount of walking done, the songs sung, the s’mores eaten, and the danced dance will all be in my heart forever, just as you will. We became life long family, family who love you for you. Whether you know it or not, they have and will affect your life in more ways than you can even imagine. I realized this so much more as I have gotten older.
Coming home from camp sucks. No matter how old I am, it never gets easier. It means letting go of you and watching you leave the magic of camp to go back to real life. I want the best for you and I worry about you. I wish you could forever live in the magical, simple, hysterically crazy world that is camp. Because camp is where you see the good in everyone, everyone genuinely wants the best for each other. With age comes new opportunities, new experiences, and new fun. I can’t wait to watch you make the most of your life. No matter where life takes, you, what job you pursue, or how you choose to live your life; I hope you know that I will always love you.
Thank you for being such a big part of some of my greatest summer memories. Believe it or not, you changed my life. You forced me to grow up, but let me be a kid at the same time. Thank you for teasing me, asking me super personal and unnecessary questions that I would never answer, and for making every single day an unpredictable wild adventure. I will never forget how beautiful the final picture is.
