a year ago my life changed… #gorockets

{ one year ago today I made the best decision of my life… to become a Rocket at The University of Toledo!!💙🚀

this year has been messy, really hard, stressful and super confusing, 

but this year has also been great, full of joy and laughter and amazing memories. 

it's been a year of learning how to be the best me I can be. I have grown tremendously and became a better person in college. 

I have made friends with brand new people who I have had the awesome privilege to meet, in this crazy year of my life.

these past 365 days have been jam packed with mistakes made, planning for college before the school year started, working, commuting 35 minutes to campus, walking too far to get to class, becoming a freshman camp counselor, creating PINK campus events, spending a lot on food and homework to the max.

But through all that, this is home & I don't think I would change my decision to attend UT!💙🚀💙🚀 }

my secret to being a Freshman Camp Counselor

Hey you.

If you opened this to read it, chances are that you are probably one of the following:

1. A UT Freshman Camp Counselor/ Coordinator 
2. An incoming Freshman to The University Of Toledo 
3. Or maybe you just wanted to read about secrets... who knows.

But, here we go. I have a secret. 

Freshman Camp has changed me drastically since July 2016 and now being in college as a Counselor. 

Ever since my cousin went to FC, a few years ago and loved it, I knew I was going to go as well. 

I knew that my counselors were on campus, at camp and in the cabins. 

I knew that my counselors wanted to hang out with me and learn more about me. 

That weekend, I knew that my counselors cared for me already and didn't even know me that well. 

Heres the thing though - I didn't know a lot about my counselors or even Freshman Camp, in general. 

I didn't know they prepared a year in advance for their campers. 

I didn't know that they had a group chat that was only for important messages and a group chat that was more for fun where anyone could text in. 

I didn't know they had meals all the time together. 

I didn't know that The University YMCA house was basically a home away from home and they could hang out there whenever they wanted to. 

I didn't know that they gave up quality time with her friends or time to do homework, so that they could come to meeting on Thursday nights at 8PM in the union. 

I didn't know that being a "broke college student" was a real thing - and that she really spent her last $5 on me when I wanted to hang out on campus. 

I didn't know when I was walking through Rocket Hall, a counselor was there and was ready to say "Hi!" to me.

I didn't know that I would meet some of my best friends through Freshman Camp. 

I didn't know they had to stand out in the cold for 2 hours to get trained in lthe ow ropes course at camp. 

I didn't know that when I wanted to get ice cream, a counselor would drive me there.

I didn't know when I dropped my water bottle on campus on the sidewalk, she would just come out of nowhere and kindly pick it up for me. 

I didn't know that I was constantly on their minds before I even knew!! I was going to Freshman Camp. 

I didn't know that they came to the Rocket Launchs over the summer, in hopes of getting incoming freshman to learn about Freshman Camp. 

I didn't know that going far past your goal of registrations on Rocket Launch day would give you so much joy and happiness, we felt on top of the world!

I didn't know that I would talk to a person for nearly ten minutes really hoping they'd want to go to camp and they would come back around to our registration table and sign up. 

I didn't know that, that counselor would make me 10 times more excited for camp!

I didn't know that after camp, they wanted me to be a counselor so bad - so they did whatever it took for me to get there. 

I didn't know that they gave up so much social time to plan, organize, facilitate and run every meeting, main event, retreat and every little behind the scenes detail that the campers would never see. 

 

I didn't know that they saw me as & welcomed me into their FC family.

I didn't know that they were actually putting themselves aside, just so we could enjoy ourselves at camp. 

I didn't know the counselors had to wake up at 6AM at camp after just going to bed just a few short hours before. 

I didn't know they showered at 4AM at camp before everyone else woke up.

I didn't know that every single activity had a hidden meaning behind it… for team work, communication, leadership and adjusting to college. 

I didn't know they would sacrifice having a dead phone just so we could charge ours. 

I didn't know that they memorized a million songs and dance moves just to get us involved.

I didn't know they screamed TOL just to get us to say EDO or yelled the UT fight song at the top of their lungs, just to get us to memorize it. 

Now that I’ve been a counselor for a year I totally didn’t know that every time I heard someone say TOL without even thinking about it I would say EDO. 

Also since I’ve been a counselor for a year, I didn’t know that I would have to introduce myself as “Hey guys I’m Lauren” and I didn’t know when someone introduced themselves I would say “Hi ______!” and I mean everywhere. In the grocery store. On TV. Everywhere!! It’s so funny!

I didn't know they had a Plan B, C or D just in case their Plan A didn't turn out the right way. 

Purple is a no go and circles are our favorite shape!

& the funny thing is - I never would have known this if I hadn't become a counselor myself.

I have seen my friends, who are also counselors, cry over how hard it really is. I have seen them rejoice over their prayers being answered - that the friends they prayed to be at camp actually showed up. I have seen them leave their studies and lives behind and lead their friends in a cabin at camp.

I have seen how hard it is being a counselor.

I have seen how rewarding it is being a counselor.

I have seen how much thought, time, effort, and prayer is put into being a counselor.

Counselors & Coordinators, I hope this encouraged you. I hope that you know amidst all of the chaos of maybe not doing as well in a class as you wish, it is worth it. The campers are worth it. I hope that you know that one day all of your behind the scenes actions will make sense and will begin to unfold. I hope that you know that you are making a difference. You are changing lives. It is hard. It is insane. It is time consuming. It is a commitment. But, It is worth rejoicing. It is impacting lives. It is worth every single emotion.

To my fellow counselors & coordinators - thank you. There are no words that could ever explain how thankful I am for you and everything you do. It is so cool to remember everything you do for us, in hopes that I can create the same chain reaction.

To my friends who are high school seniors and are coming to Toledo- go to Freshman Camp. Hang out with your counselors. They love you & they want to be friends with you. They are really cool, I promise.