Family, not Coworkers

With a great job, comes great friends inside of that job. For example, I've known my boss since I was a camper at Camp Beech Cliff, Her name is Sylvie and she's the most laid back person on this earth. But she isn't the only cool person in my place of business. In fact, I love everybody that I work with. Since there is minimal stress that comes to each other, we act more like friends than we do coworkers. Each day all of our staff comes in an hour before camp starts, so we all get to talk and chill out for a little while. During the day, our groups sometimes interact together as well, so we get to hang out with our campers as well as our staff members. Being able to chat with fellow counselors throughout the day is really helpful, because you get to talk to someone about things that aren't in a child mindset. It's a relief. After work, we normally chill for a little while as we all progressively leave the camp until the next morning.

A couple of times during the week we have staff meetings, which aren't even close to actual meetings at all. We talk about our days/weeks, and say what awesome things happened, or what camper did some kind favor to another camper. It's pretty up building to hear how well our friends in the staff are doing and how well our campers are doing as well. Every experience is a good experience.


Throughout the summer, our staff becomes a lot closer knit. We all hang out after work in town, or go out for a staff dinner. Nobody ever gets left out, we're a family. One of my best friends works with me here too, we've been tight ever since we were both campers here. His Name is Zach, and he's so chill. We have grown up together every summer since we were six years. We both connect when it comes to music. We have grown up listening to the same bands, and we introduce new styles and genres to each other. He's also very easy to talk to when it comes to important matters, and has an extremely philosophical brain. Both of his parents are professors at Washington University, and have both worked formerly at Harvard and Princeton. You would think, coming from a background like that, that Zach would be a totally stuck up prick. But I've never met somebody so easy going and open minded. He's my brother, and I respect him a ton for never judging my opinions or ideas. He's always got my back, and I his. I'm glad that I can say that I work with him all summer, along with the rest of our amazing and vibrant staff. Like I said earlier, we are a family.


Zach is all the way to the left standing in between the short older lady and the girl with her tongue stuck out. He's got crazy hair...

Down on their Level

In my last blog I mentioned that I work at a kid's summer camp. The kids that go there range from ages 5/6 to 14/15. Of course, I don't work with ones that could possibly be in my health class. I work with kids around 7-10 years old. Right in my wheelhouse. But before I lose myself and stat rambling, I'll give you a little background on this camp.

Camp Beech Cliff is the name. It's on MDI. When I was younger, I went to this camp and fell in love. Every counselor is so chill and fun. There is never a bad vibe in the place. The campus is incredible too. On top of a cliff is a massive field, adjacent to the football-sized field is an outdoor basketball court. Surrounding this center field, there are numerous cabins and buildings. One of them is a big gymnasium with a regulation sized basketball court, and an insane rock wall, one of the biggest attractions at our camp. Aside from this gym, there is an archery range, performing arts center, an amphitheater, and an  arts and crafts building. This is just the top side, however. Below the hilltop, there resides multiple water programs on the side of Echo Lake. There's swimming, outdoor skills, like fire and shelter building, and a fantastic boating program. Ranging from kayaking to sailing, boating is a camp favorite among the kids. That's enough about the camp itself though, I'm here to talk about the main attraction: My Amazing Campers.

I probably don't strike everyone as a camp counselor. But I have to tell you that ever since I was a camper here, it was truly my dream to become a counselor here, I thought it would be so much fun, and boy was I right. Most everybody doesn't recognize me as responsible, especially when it comes to other human beings. But I'm POSITIVE that a lot of you think of me as functioning like a child, and that's what helps me in my job. I get right down on their level, and interact with my kids just like normal people. They love it, I love it, everybody loves it. It's weird to think what I do is called a "job", because it's really not. I can't explain to you how much fun it is to be able to play and take care of a bunch kids all day. To say that I get paid for it is just the cherry on top of my sundae of a job.

It's an actual privilege to be able to inspire little people and hasve them inspire me just as much. I get to see their intricate minds at work. There is never a day that I wake up and feel remorse about having to get up early and drive an hour to work, work for 8-9 hours for five days a week, and have to tend to a child's every need. No, because it's so much more than that. I am honored to say that I get to spend my summer with kids, teaching them and helping them to live life. These kids are MY life and I wouldn't spend my summer any other way. I hope to be doing this for a long, long time.


Yes, this is me playing tug of war, and yes I am dressed up as Aladdin. It was a themed day, just trust me.

The Life of an Unemployed Highschool Musician

All of my teachers complain about my absences from class. Yes, I skip some classes to go and drum. But that's because I can't afford a drum set yet. My aspirations for a drumming career grew bigger after I had already spent most of my summer money on a car, and fixing said car. Little did I know then how much I'd regret the decision to buy a vehicle instead of a kit containing infinite happiness.

Well, needless to say, I don't have a set yet. I can't have a job during this school year, but I've made a deal with my parents that if I keep my grades up next year I'll be able to work as well. It's kind of ironic that the reason why my grades are so bad is because I skip and drum too much, but I can't drum on my own set because my grades are too poor to buy a drum set for myself... Funny how things work, huh?

I've come to realize in the recent past that my grades are still important no matter what my passion is, which is why I've started working extremely hard over the last couple of weeks. I don't think there is anybody in my life that loves drumming quite as much as I do, but there is a time and place for it. Noticing my quick ascent in my school work ethic, my parents made another offer to me: If I keep playing catch-up, and get my grades up to par (and keep them there the rest of the year), then they will generously help me to afford a set. Once summer rolls around again I'll go back to my summer job at a children's summer camp. By my first paycheck I should be able to get my dream set with their help.

My parents have offered me some fantastic deals in this school year, some of which I think are borderline irrational, but I'm extremely thankful for those deals. They notice my incredible passion for music itself, let alone drumming. Every time they walk into my room they see me working on another song. Every chance I get, I ask them if they know this song, or how far I'm getting in another one. Whether it's authentic or not, they at least act like they care, and they help me so much in furthering my puny drumming career. I couldn't be more grateful for that.


This is the Crush Acrylic Set that I've been appraising for a while now. I plan to put sweet LED's in mine. How sick would that be? Like I'd be drowning in women, lesbihonest here.