How Summer Can Change You

Christianne Kafie

Have you ever been away from your family for six weeks? Have you had to say goodbye to your cell phone and stay out of touch for almost two months? That’s exactly what happens to those of us who attend summer school or camps away from home. This was my first experience at Culver Summer Schools & Camps, and I can definitely say that it has changed me forever. 

To begin,  I was barely out of school when I needed to prepare for a long summer away from home. It would be the first time I would be away from my family and most of my friends. Needless to say, it made me feel incredibly nervous but also excited about this new experience, which I hope would help me shape my character and make me a stronger person. I had heard great reviews about how this summer camp could help me strengthen my leadership skills and endurance. I was also thrilled about the prospect of meeting new people from all over the world.  

My first days at Culver, I had to learn to rely only on myself. I could not depend on anyone, the way I do at home. I had a strict schedule to follow, but I was so busy that I didn’t even miss my phone!  My day was packed with a myriad of activities, from public speaking classes to rowing crew; thus, I didn’t even think about checking social media or calling home. Actually, I had no way of getting in touch with my family, except for a calling card that I could seldom use. 

At camp, I participated in many sports activities, such as sailing, crew team, kickball team, and soccer team. The best part about camp was getting chosen as the only 3rd classmen in the crew team. This decision helped me prepare myself even more for the competitions. Have you ever rowed a crew before? Well, I had never experienced such a sport. On the other hand, sailing was a big part of my summer. Every day, for 2 hours each morning, I start the morning sail. At first, sailing was very boring since we needed to get to know how to control the boat and the parts of it.

In the last weeks, I got to sail alone and race against my friend. Throughout all of these experiences, I grew as a leader in resilience, endurance, and patience. I didn’t think I could be this strong, but this is how we learn to face setbacks and defeat.  I didn’t always win first place, but I was proud of what I had accomplished during the many sailing and rowing competitions. 

As you can see, my summer was one-of-a-kind. I learned to be independent, self-reliant, and  resilient. My parents weren’t there to cheer me up, so I learned to be my own cheerleader, and I can definitely say that I feel like a different person after Culver.