being new is scary. really really scary. no matter how prepared you think you are, no matter how many years you came as a camper, everyone has at least one period of time where they're at least a little panicked.
we understand. we were all there once.
last year, carrie told me the old staff are one of the most intimidating parts of coming to camp for the first time. i was shocked and asked how in the world did she mean.
but it actually totally makes sense.
-we've been here before. whether it's our second, fifth, or twelfth summer, we're still way more experienced than someone who has no idea what to expect.
-we know each other. there's that lingering thought of "will i fit in?"
-we know about everything already.
so i'm writing this to refute each of these. not denying them, because i mean they're all partly true. but here's why all of them actually play to your advantage as a new staffer.
-we know each other.
yes! exactly! we've had whole summers together. we've seen the good, the bad and the ugly of each other. and that is why YOU are more interesting! we don't know you at all yet. and we want to. not that we don't love each other, but we get really excited about new people. time isn't any kind of factor here; last year one of the new staff became one of my best friends within a week. these things are normal in camp world.
the best part about the camp world is that everyone "fits in." just like it is for the campers, it's a place where all of us get to be exactly what we are and be loved by everyone around us for it. people who would never give each other a second thought in the real world end up best friends at camp. lonely outcasts in the real world are the most popular people on staff. just another reason why camp is the most beautiful place in the world.
camp is like a big, weird, awesome family. every year i've been here, we've pulled the new staff right in and by the end of orientation(sometimes the end of the first day!) we're saying we feel like we've known each other forever. it's so great. so don't worry, it's not like one of those summer camp movies from the 90s where the old staff are all super jerks. we actually want you here.
-we've been here before.
yes we have. which means at one point, we were where you are! we were you once. nervous, full of questions, not knowing what to expect. so since we know how you feel, we want you to get comfortable as quick as possible so you'll love camp as much as we do! please please don't worry about us.
-we know everything already.
okay no one knows evvvverything. even heather smith(who holds the record of nine summers) didn't know everything. with that being said, yes we do know what we're doing, but that makes us the perfect people to help you! we don't expect you to know things on your own, or get annoyed when you don't know what's going on. ask us all the questions you want all day long. we like it; it makes us feel cool and important. or maybe that's just me. ;] half the fun of being a veteran is being there for yall, so don't be scared to come to any of us. we love you and we're happy you're here.
throwing in my personal opinion: new staff are better than old ones. during orientation week, i pretty much don't exist to the old staff because i'm having too much fun making new friends.
basically: it's okay to be nervous, but you don't need to be terrified. we're here for you! you're gonna love it here. =]
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