I've learned a LOT of things since I've been working as a camp counselor (or as its so eloquently worded in the job description, Team Advisor) for the NSLC summer programs for Healthcare and Medicine (aka nerd camp). Here's are couple of things that I've learned so far:
So far I have met some really amazing people and I'm really happy that I've had this experience. High school can be such an uncomfortable age, but I am so impressed with how passionate, driven and intelligent these students are. I've already seen my group of 15 students push themselves out of their comfort zones so much in this past week, and we still have three more days. As sad as it will be to say goodbye to my first group of students (and some of the TAs) I am ready to head to Alaska with my family for a MUCH NEEDED vacation. I'm so excited though to meet back up with some of the TAs to work with them at NSLC UW for two more rounds of camps!!!
But on the real, this buzzfeed article that another T.A. (Lacy) showed me explains life as a T.A. perfectly:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/artsmart/so-you-were-a-camp-counselor-this-summer-edpk#.gkmYvABLJ
- it is completely normal for a mosquito bite to be the size of your ankle (in Georgia)
- nobody was kidding about the humidity
- pirates wear eyepatches so that when they go down to the bottom of their ships, one of their eyes is adjusted to the darkness (but they're stupid because your eyes have a consensual response so it doesn't really work like that)
- calories don't count when you're a T.A. at nerd camp
- I can function with only 5 hours of sleep a night, but I may (will) become delirious
- pig skin is very similar to human skin, and therefore are the best to learn on for practicing suturing techniques
- I never want to have kids (or at least 15 of them at a time)
So far I have met some really amazing people and I'm really happy that I've had this experience. High school can be such an uncomfortable age, but I am so impressed with how passionate, driven and intelligent these students are. I've already seen my group of 15 students push themselves out of their comfort zones so much in this past week, and we still have three more days. As sad as it will be to say goodbye to my first group of students (and some of the TAs) I am ready to head to Alaska with my family for a MUCH NEEDED vacation. I'm so excited though to meet back up with some of the TAs to work with them at NSLC UW for two more rounds of camps!!!
But on the real, this buzzfeed article that another T.A. (Lacy) showed me explains life as a T.A. perfectly:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/artsmart/so-you-were-a-camp-counselor-this-summer-edpk#.gkmYvABLJ