Senior Campers Research Paper

Since the summer after third grade, I have been attending a sleepaway camp in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. For most of my time spent there, my relationships with the other campers has been uncomplicated and enjoyable. However as I transitioned from main camp to senior camp, friendships grew more and more complex. I found myself having to choose between girls in my bunk.

Senior camp, the oldest age group, has many differences and privileges in comparison to the younger age groups. This includes the rearrangement of groups/bunks of girls. While I still had some of my close friends in this new cabin, there were two other girls named Jess and Dana who I didn’t particularly like. In fact, most of the senior campers didn’t love them.
Even one of the beloved counselors spoke sharply to Jess one day. Maybe sometimes Jess and Dana even knew deep down that Olivia and I weren’t too fond of them either. Despite all this, I didn’t give up on them. The more people tried to act superior to them, the more I wanted to help Dana and Jess.

Olivia and I would compliment them, stay in the bunk with them when the others ran off, offer to be in groups with them, and more. It was upsetting to think that we were the only ones trying to do the right thing but we still made Dana and Jess feel like they were cared about. Even today I feel like I am not as close with my camp friends because of Jess and Dana. They were pretty cliquey and still are. I feel like they don’t like me as much as they would have because they don’t feel as close to me.

Though it was and still is a bit aggravating, I really have no regrets about showing compassion towards Jess and Dana those two summers. It is so much more rewarding and impactful to be selfless than to be selfish. As a matter of fact, Hanging out with Dana and Jess didn’t ruin my summer at all. I still had an amazing time and got to experience incredible