Lessons from camp by TJ

Lessons from camp by TJ - March 2024 Scholarship Essay

I’ve always loved serving others in any way I could. Being part of a church community has allowed me to serve in different capacities. Running a station for church camp was not the first time I was put in a leadership role, however, it was the first time I made key decisions for a large group involving a lot of planning and preparation. My team was small and the work was challenging, but this was one of my favorite experiences as it pushed me in ways I never expected, allowing me to work on my weaknesses and strengths. This was an experience where I got to interact closely with not just one person, but a whole staffing unit that I had not previously worked with
One obstacle I had to overcome was being selected to lead over older, more qualified individuals in my church; teaching me to be more diplomatic with adults. The varied age groups led to problems too. Kids kept falling during activities and the learning curve for dealing with upset children was steep. Things got increasingly harder as one of the members of my team developed a fever. My triad became a duo and the campers only got more rowdy pushing me to grow through adversity and lead my team well.
My role expanded even more as two of our key leaders were sick and I was left to be the resident hype man. Staying high energy for the staff in addition to being upbeat for the kids was draining. In a place that by nature was extremely taxing, my body was starting to get weary as well. Nevertheless, I was committed to the work, so I pushed through being an example of servant leadership. I served in skits, helped run group games, and was even on the dance/worship team.
Before I knew it, the two weeks had finished and I was absolutely exhausted, but I learned many things about myself. One of the biggest lessons I learned was follow through on commitments and take care of those around me. True leadership is leading like a servant inviting others to follow you and serve under your hand.