Since my former school at the Dresden International School in Germany was a small tight-knit group of about 600 students, we were always in need of volunteers. Having been the class representative for several years, I found myself dedicating a lot of time into volunteering at school festivals, opening ceremonies by playing the piano, and making phone calls to DIS families to ask for school donations. From these experiences, I built my communicating skills and also dedication for my volunteering work. However, it was at Camp C.A.M.P. in San Antonio last summer that I learned a new type of volunteer work existed.

Outside the realm of medical-oriented friends who were spending their summers volunteering at hospitals, I found Camp C.A.M.P. (Children’s Association for Maximum Potential), which my peers described was both “mind-opening” and “responsibility.” Camp C.A.M.P. is a week-long summer camp for special needs children and adults who are ineligible to attend other camps due to their medical conditions. As a volunteer counselor, I attended a basic three-day briefing Pre-Camp, where volunteers train to be partnered one-on-one with a camper and help them with hygiene, life skills and daily needs. At camp, children and volunteers would engage in various activities ranging from canoeing, archery, horseback-riding and more. In certain sessions, there was even a prom night for campers who were unable to attend prom due to their condition. Camp C.A.M.P. was a great opportunity for me in many ways; not only did I make new friends from all over Texas, but I also learned the importance of helping others and experienced the weight of responsibility.

At the first session in the heat of August, I was full of nervous tension as I waited for my camper and her parent to arrive to the site. Clutching a notebook, I now commenced noting important phrases concerning my camper Eboni’s habits and likes & dislikes that her mother quickly scurried over. My hands were shaky and I felt that the room was too stuffy, despite the air-conditioner blasting into the dinning hall.

“Is this your first time at Camp?” Eboni’s mother asked with a gentle smile.

“Yes, but you don’t have to worry about a thing!” I said hurriedly, trying to defend my qualification. “We’re going to have tons of fun!” I said, turning to Eboni with childishness. But thankfully she returned the smile. Eboni was seated in a black wheelchair that was specially designed to comfortably fit her back, which prevented her from walking and standing straight up. She was in the same condition with her arms, so I was to help her with many daily activities.

“Eboni doesn’t like too much noise and her skin is delicate so she can’t be in the sun too much,” her mother was saying as I practically scripted her every word she in my precious notebook.

'But most of our activities are outside –so she can’t do canoeing, swimming…' I thought to myself.

“Also, she loves to hear others sing –especially Disney songs –this is the best way to keep her in a good mood.”

'Oh crap, I don’t know how to sing, yet alone know any Disney songs.' This was all definitely overwhelming at first, but as I carefully thought through everything, I realized that there was an alternative for everything. If she didn’t like the sun, we’ll do more of Arts & Craft and hang out in the shade. So what if I didn’t know any Disney songs? I would learn them from other friends and I knew some Camp C.A.M.P. songs we’ve been singing all week. I had always kept a positive attitude and my experience at camp had showed me how important this way of thinking can be.

However, despite this optimistic streak, being responsible for Eboni’s health and enjoyment at camp was more difficult than what I had expected. Due to her inability to speak, I had to read her face expressions and her movements to understand if she was hungry, uncomfortable or bored. She didn’t like to drink a lot despite the heat, which made me worried of her getting dehydrated. In the evening I was worried that she wasn’t completely comfortable in her bed, whether she was too hot under the covers and such. Even the smallest details bothered me to an extent that my mind was a swirl of useless worries. One time, in the mist of everybody preparing for bed time, I found my nose bleeding while getting her towels. I had never been so affectionate and caring before –my week had revolved around Eboni alone.

In this process, I also learned to become more thankful for what I had and also how to be humble. Truthfully speaking, controlling my own face expressions was sometimes difficult. For instance, when she had to swallow toothpaste and water instead of spitting them out, or when she felt uncomfortable in her tight wheelchair, I felt a soft throb in my heart. Once, I tried eating the puree Eboni eats, which is simply the food placed in a blender. I wanted to know more about Eboni and what challenges she faced every day. Every morning before breakfast, campers first had to take their medication and this was a tough process. It was obviously clear that most campers detested their medicine, but what was more apparent was the effort by the medical staff to make the medicine as tasty as possible, coaxing them and never getting impatient. During my time with Eboni, she became someone who I had great respect for. She always had a smile on her face and her eyes told me everything –that she was having a good time. Always optimistic and patient, she allowed me to make mistakes, stumble and find the right way to make her comfortable and build our friendship. She was both outgoing and proud, acting mature and always holding her head high.

Not only was Eboni an inspiration for me, but the campers and volunteers around me also astonished me of their humility, manner and dedication. Nobody was having a bad time; volunteers were constantly singing, playing games and making cheesy jokes –anything for their campers to smile or laugh. Despite the lack of verbal communication, volunteers’ throats were getting sore from talking too much and despite being tired from the heat and keeping up their mood, they were always up for another round of singing. At night when all the campers had gone to sleep, counselors were busy down at the dining hall decorating camp journals, sharing crayons and markers. Each camper had been given a journal to keep throughout the week, noting their favorite activities and each new friend he or she has made. Often times however, it was up to the counselors to write and decorate these journals, and all this had to be done before curfew at 11:30. Despite having had a long, hot day, it was truly touching to see so many counselors dedicated to coloring and writing with great effort. Half way through camp, I had become quite tired but after talking to other counselors, I found that many were returning counselors and some had even participated in all sessions throughout summer, a total of eight weeks. During one night sift, I asked one of my tribe leaders, an A1, in my cabin what the best part about camp was for them and if it wasn’t difficult for them to return every week. She admitted it was a little stressful, but she said that being with campers was something she loved doing. I had already respected her for her caring and enthusiastic attitude before, but since this conversation, I came to respect her even more, all for her big heart for volunteering work.

By the end of the week, Eboni had completed goals that she had set for camp; but she wasn’t the only one to learn something new. I had become more mature and appreciative of my privileges. One of our philosophies at camp is: “Everyone’s a Winner at Camp C.A.M.P.” and it’s true. Everybody leaves camp with something, whether it is a friendship or a lesson, or both. Being able to help campers is happiness, and a truly filling experience. As we leave camp, we part by saying, “See you next year!”