The YMCA Impact

This is my fourth summer at Camp Rising Sun and I have loved every second of it. My favorite part of the year is always summer because I know how much fun camp is. To me, Rising Sun isn’t just a place where I work, it is my home away from home. I have been blessed to get to know so many campers and each one has had a large impact on my life. After my first summer of work, I wrote a reflection on my first year for a college essay. I would like to share this with you:

Her name was Molly, and in my eyes she was the cutest kid in the entire camp. It was my first year as a YMCA camp counselor, and I met Molly on my first day of work when she was sitting in the corner with a runny nose, bawling because her mom had to go to work. I approached her cautiously, unsure of what to do in this type of situation, and sat down beside her. I explained that I sometimes miss my mom and that we could be friends. She looked up with her big brown eyes, took a deep breath, wiped her snotty nose, and said, “Okay, but you have to hold my hand for the entire day.” I took hold of her slimy hand and replied, “It’s a deal.”

Over the summer, Molly’s trust in me grew just as my adoration for her spirit did. Every morning for the rest of the summer, when I came to work she would run over to me, burst out in a high pitched voice, and say, “I didn’t cry this morning, aren’t you proud?” Everyday was unpredictable - crying over a lost backpack that was perched on her shoulders, putting her swimsuit on backwards, and even stealing a kindness bead from another’s necklace. No matter the obstacle that was thrown at her, she always turned to me for support.

Since Molly and I had formed a solid relationship, I felt that I would be able to teach her how to swim quickly. I was wrong. Baby steps are an understatement in this situation, as I soon realized at best I’d have her floating on her own three summers from now. As the summer progressed, so did our determination; we slowly got closer and closer to our goal. Each day we worked on something new, whether floating with one hand or learning how to kick. One day, she came up to me and said, “I am going to swim on my own today.” That simple statement, made with such a persevering tone, made shivers run down my spine as I became anxious for results. Molly put her head under the water for the first time that day and even though she didn’t swim fully on her own, I don’t think I have ever been more proud.

On the last week of camp, while getting into the pool, I heard a little voice scream, “Mary Kait, watch me!” As I turned around to face the side of the pool, I saw Molly, my Molly who had worked so hard over the summer, jump into the pool and swim over to me. As her face emerged from the water, I saw the exact mirror of my expression; a big, fat grin. When she had found a comfortable position on my arm, she peered into my eyes and said, “It took all summer just to learn that?” I laughed, but inside I knew that every moment spent with her was worth it. I can make a difference.

The YMCA has impacted my life in so many ways. I would love to know how Rising Sun has impacted your camper this summer. Please email your stories to MaryKait.Fisher@ymcatriangle.org It would mean the world to me to hear from you!