Photo courtesy of Covenant Cedars Bible Camp

After a summer at camp, I walked away with strong friendships, treasured memories and real leadership growth. But something that surprised me was how camp also prepared me for life after college.

1. Get up early
   In college, hitting snooze and rushing to class was the norm. But at camp, I started waking up a few minutes early, giving me enough time to catch the sunrise, breathe deeply and get ready for the day.
2. Collaboration
   All summer, I worked shoulder to shoulder with an incredible team. Together, we cared for campers, performed skits and cleaned cabins. Creativity flourished, teamwork was essential and we relied on each other daily for support. As I move into a corporate career, I’ll keep asking for feedback, leaning on others’ strengths and offering support in return.
3. Make time for dreaming
   At camp, imagination and dreaming take place around a campfire, in quiet moments by the lake or during late-night stargazing. Having time unplugged from distractions allowed me to be fully present and focused on my thoughts. I want to bring this into my future career by taking time to unplug and be inspired so that my work is meaningful and my ideas are fresh.
4. Seek out inspiring people
   My coworkers came from across the country—and even around the world—from different ages, life stages and career paths. They inspired me to be a better leader by demonstrating how to lead campers with patience, humility and grace. In my career, I’ll make sure to carve out time to spend with people I admire so that I can continue to grow.
5. Find joy in the little things
   Each day at camp contained so many small, beautiful moments—watching the sunset, belly-laughing with campers and staff, enjoying s’mores around a crackling campfire. There was so much to be grateful for. These magical moments might look different in a corporate setting, but I’ll continue to find joy in the little things.
6. Embrace flexibility
   At camp, plans changed constantly whether it was rain, surprises or other emergencies. Staying flexible helped our team roll with the punches, and that same mindset will help me thrive at work, too. When changes came, being adaptable helped our team transition smoothly; having the same mindset in my future career will help my team thrive.

I signed up to work at camp expecting to have fun, meet amazing people and work hard—and I did! But I was surprised at how much it also prepared me for my future career. I’m grateful for this experience, and I feel ready to bring my best to my next job!