Summer comes and summer goes. But memories last forever. The unmistakable sound of screaming children infused with the soothing audio of the slowly wading water as it hits the beach takes you to a place unlike any other. This place will probably have; numerous trees, maybe a few children, possibly a swimming pool, but without a doubt the unrelenting sensation of happiness. For me this place is a Jewish overnight camp in a suburb of Cleveland. Ever since 1907 it’s been called the home of happiness because of its ability to instill Jewish values on its inhabitants and provide them with a cozy feeling of being homelike that one could only know about if they experience it themselves. Last summer was my 9th time attending my beacon escape from the real world. What made last summer so different from all the others, was that I was no longer a camper. Yet, I was not a staff member. Instead I was in the middle, as I was an SIT, Staff in Training. In this position you have all the responsibilities of a staff member, without receiving some of the benefits such as pay, but obtain an even greater reward that money cannot even compare with.

If I could even begin to explain the summer I had last year that would be a novel filled with more details than drops of water in an ocean. Nevertheless I can attempt too by listing some phrases that summarize it up. “Baby you a song you make me want to role my window down and cruise” in the golf cart and truck we weren't allowed to drive and afterwards we’ll go to the Chadar and yell “Romeo take me somewhere we can be alone I’ll be waiting all there’s left to do is run.” But before we could sing, me and the other SIT’s were busy dishing out food to people at lunch, saying the phrase that never gets old, “do you even serve bro?” Numerous people also contributed to the success of the summer, like the staff I worked with. But in reality the select people that made my summer so obsequies it seemed unreal was each and every camper in my cabin, O-5.

To go to camp last summer, I had to give up playing baseball and in the end it was more than worth it and something I’ll never regret. Being given the chance to not only work with younger kids but help them learn how to have fun has much more value than any trophy could hold. I was able to bond with kids of all different ages and it wasn’t through the incentive of money. At first I thought it was only because it was the right thing to do, but I soon realized it’s because I enjoyed it so much.

All summer I had a few goals in my mind for how I would improve myself as an individual, as a fellow staff member and as a role model to younger kids. Yet, there was one goal I had that shined brighter than the rest. The entire time, since my application to be an SIT all I wanted to do was provide an experience for the campers under me, similar to the one that so many counselors provided for me as a camper. It's hard to be a perfect counselor and what I realized is that's ok. I learned as long as you try your hardest and really show your campers you care about them, there's no way they wont have a great time. I digress. There's no way they wont have the time of their lives. That is, until next summer.

To anyone who volunteers, no matter what the action is, I want to thank you. Unfortunately it does take some effort to decide to do so, but once you begin you'll realize how great it feels to help other people. Now I know working at a summer camp without pay, doesn't exactly sound as grand and extraordinary as maybe going on a missionary trip to Africa. However, the help I believe I was able to provide my fellow staff members was of the utmost importance. And paramount of everything, just the idea that I may have helped even one child have the time of their life this past summer is a joy to me that will remain with me forever more and I find my biggest accomplishment up to this point in my life.

To wrap up my ideas, I have a little challenge for you. I want you to try to find your own beacon of escape, a place where happiness is always abundant and try to help others feel the same way about it as you do. I hope to be working at Camp for the next few years helping children gain memories they'll never lose and maybe even pick up a few more of my own along the way. I'm truly scared for the day that I can no longer return to the home of happiness and will forever treasure the time I've spent there.