Camp. Don't Stop

Admittedly there are certain songs that may emit specific, detailed emotions and ties to memory. As I write this, "Don't Stop Believing" is playing over the store radio; I sit cross-legged on the floor as seemingly thousands of memories course through my mind. And all I really want to do is get up, dance and scream the lyrics at the top of my lungs.

Hundreds upon thousands of times I ahve listened to this song. It has been our go to song as either the entrance or exit to the camp skit. The song can wear on my for sure, when the Glee version. But give me the original Journey tune, and it is going to be hard to stop me.

bowling bellas. 2013

Whether it is Timm, attempting to tip the chair in his socks, or singing it with the Gig girls before the Ekiden relay, or even the race, I will always relate this song to camp.

I don't know if there are words to even describe the passion I ahve for this place. Every time I go back, I fall in love with running all over again. And this year it was definitely needed.

I won't say that this year was particularly easy for me. On the contrary, it was by far one of the most difficult I have ever experienced. And now I think I am getting ahead of myself and lumping my whole year into it, rather than just the week we spend at camp. I was way off all my times from the year before, I felt hopeless at times. But things sparked.

I owe a lot to camp and all those involved. They are my family. Too much did I compare my times to last year- or pictures. And how strange I looked, felt this year.

I felt old and out of place, but that is because I let people make me feel that way. I wrote before about how I sometimes need the encouragement behind me to help in my confidence, which leaves me open to criticism, a vulnerable position, but necessity to really understand yourself more fully.

Yes, I was older than most of the counselors, but that doesn't matter. Camp is not about being liked, popular or the coolest. It is about being you. And for some it is about creating and finding yourself. Enjoying your passion.
Cannot wait to go back. Every year I learn something new. Every year I get a little stronger.