...meant so much. It wasn't a hug from a boyfriend or a hot
guy. It wasn’t from a family member or someone I've known for forever. It was
from a sixth grader. Yes, front hugs are outdoor school inappropriate, but
sometimes you don't have time to deflect it.
My third week out, I had a full cabin. Some of the girls
were a bit more difficult to manage. One student was especially difficult. She
was very smart and creative; she just didn't know how to properly express
herself. I had noticed she hadn't made many friends and she wasn't making the
most of her experience. I had also noticed that she did an amazing job on one
of the daily activities. So, during my personal good nights one night, I went
over to her bunk, got down to her level, and asked how her day went. She said
the usual "It was okay" so I asked what her favorite part was. She
didn't have an answer. I could tell she was feeling a tad home sick. I looked
her in the eyes and told her that I saw she had fun today and that she was absolutely
wonderful throughout the day. I told her I was proud to have her in my cabin
and that her mother must be proud of her. She looked at me, then, out of nowhere,
I saw a smile and was wrapped in her arms. I knew right then that I had made a
difference in her week.
The next day, I saw major improvements in her behavior and
she began talking to students from different schools. All she needed was to
know that we cared and that we didn't only see the bad things, we noticed the
good moments too. I left that week knowing I made a difference, and I thrive to
have moments like that each week I return.
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