On the first Thursday night of the session, Kenwood holds a campfire service, and different campers receive color-coded feathers for various awards. I still remember walking up the hill to the campfire circle wondering who would get the first spirit feather, one I had heard an older girl talking about earlier that morning. This feather is awarded to one camper from each age group for being an all-around-happy camper. As I walked into campfire and received a new unfrayed campfire hat, thoughts of the award escaped my mind as the melodies of campfire songs filled my ears. Twenty minutes later, it was time for the feathers to be awarded.
I didn’t understand why I was so nervous; it couldn’t be me; I had only been at camp for one week. I told myself to calm down and that I wasn’t going to receive the award. But still, I couldn’t help thinking that I wanted to be that camper. I wondered what it would feel like. I could barely contain myself when the head counselor read the two divisions winners before my own. Then I heard her say the words, “Gabby Pollack” and a giant smile crept across my face. I could barely stand from excitement as I walked down to claim my award.
But, I am no longer the scared, unconfident girl I was six years ago. Since then I have made true bonds with the friends I’ve made at camp, ones that I will never forget. My memories with these girls have shaped my past, my present, and will shape my future. But, the simple award of a green feather, which I could buy at any craft store, enabled me to become the person I am today. Now when I look back on the feather from my first campfire I am forever reminded of that spirited, happy nine-year-old girl.
When I am having a stressful day at school and I feel like nothing is going right, the simple idea of reflecting on this memory I remember a time when nothing seemed impossible. When my camp experience ended last summer, I realized that all I have left are the memories of those special weeks.
Remember, it is the simple memories, significant to only you, that make you who you are and define you as the person that you will become.
I didn’t understand why I was so nervous; it couldn’t be me; I had only been at camp for one week. I told myself to calm down and that I wasn’t going to receive the award. But still, I couldn’t help thinking that I wanted to be that camper. I wondered what it would feel like. I could barely contain myself when the head counselor read the two divisions winners before my own. Then I heard her say the words, “Gabby Pollack” and a giant smile crept across my face. I could barely stand from excitement as I walked down to claim my award.
But, I am no longer the scared, unconfident girl I was six years ago. Since then I have made true bonds with the friends I’ve made at camp, ones that I will never forget. My memories with these girls have shaped my past, my present, and will shape my future. But, the simple award of a green feather, which I could buy at any craft store, enabled me to become the person I am today. Now when I look back on the feather from my first campfire I am forever reminded of that spirited, happy nine-year-old girl.
When I am having a stressful day at school and I feel like nothing is going right, the simple idea of reflecting on this memory I remember a time when nothing seemed impossible. When my camp experience ended last summer, I realized that all I have left are the memories of those special weeks.
Remember, it is the simple memories, significant to only you, that make you who you are and define you as the person that you will become.
