(The reason I’m blogging this before my birthday is because I’ll actually be out of the country without internet access for like 2 weeks starting on my birthday,Jan 3rd)
I was forced to pick between working an internship over the summer or return to my summer camp for one final year. After much internal debate and discussion, I turned down two internships (which weren’t even that good) to spend my final summer doing something I love. I absolutely adore all the kids at my camp along with my amazing coworkers! The friendships I formed with my coworkers and the memories I have remind me every day that I made the right choice. I worked an internship last spring in order to work at camp, but the extra work was totally worth the love I would experience at camp!
This was a huge stepping stone in my own personal growth. Bonding with my team members and opening up about our battles in the past truly made us all feel like family. Our team of leaders were able to create such a loving environment for 55 students and helped them recognize the love in and around them. Something about a group of students being able to lead a retreat and open up about their depression, anxiety, sexual-assault, and mental health issues to help recognize those around them that they aren’t alone is just so beautiful to me.
On the theme of mental health, Last month, I decided to join a campus-wide campaign to raise awareness for mental health. I opened up about my anxiety and self-doubt to my friends, coworkers and everyone on my college’s campus. Posters are hung up of a photo me, what I’ve struggled with, and what I do to beat these struggles. This was something I would have NEVER expected to been able to openly talk about, let alone have it on a poster and put it on my Insta, but the response I’ve gotten has been amazing!
The reason for this blog is to serve as a reminder that poor mental health should not dictate your life. I am blessed to have such loving friends who push me to be the best me, and I would be happy to be a friend to any of you who are in need of a push :)
