College Admissions Essay: Wake Up Girl

“Wake up girls! Get out of bed,” is a rude awaking that I look forward to at 8 o’clock each morning. This is how the best 49 days of my life start. I’m there for a short time, and I’m away for longer: 10 endless months counting down the days until I’m back. Those two months spent with my 14 sisters shape me inside and out and make me who I am now. I am now compassionate, tolerant and sympathetic to everyone around me. Two months making friendships that create sisterly bonds that will never be forgotten and forever held onto.
The Merriam-Webster definition of camp is: “a place usually away from urban areas where tents or simple buildings (such as cabins) are erected for shelter or for temporary residence.” In my eyes, this definition misses the permanent relationships you build and the heartbreak you feel when you have to leave.
These two months are the most un-luxurious weeks of my life, yet somehow I return every year. Packed into a condensed un-air conditioned muggy cabin 14 of us sleep. Through these conditions somehow each and every one of us wake up every morning with a smile stretching across our faces. These moments can last a lifetime only because we count on each other, encourage each other, fight with each other and, above all else love each
A clear example from my experience where these skills are shown is in the morning. Especially during clean up we have to transform our messy areas into a more organized mess. This time out of my day has helped me develop the skill of independence because I have to learn to take care of my area before it gets too out of hand. In addition, having to do this every morning helps develop my skill of encouraging others because I am able clean others areas and convince them to clean their own to be able to meet standards. This is just one way throughout my day at camp that has changed me so