Junior Thought - Kaiya

When I first came to camp I definitely felt nervous. I had so many questions floating around in my head. Was I going to fit in? Was I going to make friends? But then I realized that I don’t have to fit in. I can be different. The beginnings are also tough but they can also open up new opportunities that last a lifetime. Whether it is friendships, memories or hobbies. The beginnings can also be new like Waukeela might be a whole different place than home.

Senior Though - Sammie

Beginnings have never been my strong suit. I tend to struggle with the thought of everything changing around me. Throughout middle school I was in the same toxic environment that I called my friend group. My school is grades 6-12 so these were the girls I would spend all of my teen years with. With all the new incoming freshmen I was nervous about the outcomes of my friend group. News flash… it only got worse. As the year went on my mind was filled with questions like why do they treat me like this? And why do I have to feel like this? That was my realization that I needed a change. Throughout the course of the year I had become friends with a bunch of nre girls. One day I was walking down to the lunch room with a few of them and I asked them Can I at with you guys today? I was so nervous to ask because I knew this would start a new beginning. I sat with them that day and I have never left since. My happiness improved drastically. Even my mom noticed she said to me one day after school that have been so much happier ever since I changed groups. When I began to associate myself with people I could be myself around and who loved me for me life only got better. Although I was so nervous for this new beginning I wouldn't change it for the world.

CIT Thought - Anika

As much as I don’t want to believe it, next summer I graduate from high school. College is now right around the corner for me. I always suspected that this would be the case going into senior year; but now I’m more anxious than ever. “What schools are you looking at?” a question I hear too often. I stop myself from saying, “I really don’t know.” I have been told I should know by now. To ease my nerves, I begin by writing,  jumping into the essay, aware that Waukeela would be my topic of choice. It look me almost a month to decide how to accurately convey all camp has given me. As a small elf, I had admired my counselors with awe as they taught me all camp had in store. Throughout my eight years here, I learned that no ambition is too big, with ups and downs. From Edie Middleton, breaking my wrist, to leading camp as a Scotch Pine, camp has given the the confidence to believe in myself. The friendships I’ve made, the beauty of nature. With these perspectives I have become wise and I appreciate the insightfulness Sundays bring upon us. Now a CIT, soon to have my own campers. Eight years felt like the blink of an eye. When I return home this August, I will be drowning in college applications. This beginning still scares me, but these pines have created a home for me to laugh and cry, but most importantly “to be kind and free.”

Junior Thought - Wren

Harmony is a concept that is different for everyone. Harmony for me is silence, not around me but inside me. To have my mind calm, so you can hear your heartbeat and blood pumping throughout your body. In those moments, your brain starts to dive deeper and its a special moment. There is also harmony in a person. Someone who accepts you and cherishes you, and that is a kind of harmony you don’t forget. And then there is camp. Camp is its own kind of harmony. Not the quiet kind if you’ve ever been to mealtimes, but the people. At camp, friendships last forever. Wether its swimming in the very very cold lake together or talking about Percy Jackson, at Waukeela is where I find harmony. 

Staff Thought - Paige

Harmony is like the music of life--it's all about finding balance and peace in everything we do. Whether it's getting along with friends, working together as a team, finding joy in nature, or feeling connected spiritually, harmony is there. But the most important harmony is the one inside each of us. It's about feeling really good about who we are, accepting others just as they are, and being okay with things that have happened in the past. When we have this inner harmony, it's not just about feeling happy-it helps us grow, learn, and enjoy life more! It also brings us closer together, even if we're all different. Imagine if we all played different instruments but created a beautiful melody together-that's harmony in action! To keep this harmony going, let's always be kind, loving, and caring towards ourselves and others. And if things ever feel tough or we remember something that makes us sad, we can find peace by looking inside ourselves. That's where our strength and calmness live, ready to help us through anything.

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So let's remember that to be happy I must be good, That to be worthy I must be kind, That to be loved, must think love. let's embrace our uniqueness, spread kindness, and remember that true harmony starts right here, within each of us.

Counselor Thought - Sofia

I’ve learned so much from watching my mother navigate the world as an immigrant. She demonstrates perseverance and the power of being independent. She willingly takes on thankless tasks while somehow still looking effortlessly chic in her vibrant colors and high heels. She is also a double parent for me, filling the role of my father. My relationship with my mother is exceptional: supporting, nurturing, affectionate, and full of humor. We may have our rough patches but that doesn’t change the fact that she has always been and always will be my best friend, my mentor and the most resilient person I know. My mother did not has had some hard moments in her life and when she tells me about them she shows me that even the strongest and most resilient people have moments of vulnerability and that makes them even more beautiful.

Senior Thought - Luna 

The friendships at Waukeela have truly moulded who I am as a person. Looking back to my first year at Waukeela, as my age group does not let me forget, I pulled up to camp wearing a yellow sundress. Looking back at it now, my wardrobe is a true testament to how I really did not know what I was getting into. The way I showed up in the completely wrong outfit to a girls summer camp and was still welcomed with open arms is a wonder to me. It really goes to show how incredibly inclusive and loving camp is. Although now, I might not be the girl to rock a yellow sundress during opening day I know I would have confidence to do it all over again with the support of my friends. My age group has truly been a rock for me throughout these years. They never fail to make me laugh and feel like I belong no matter what. Growing up and being able to call you my friends is an honor. Thank you all for being the amazing humans you are. I have so much love fo you all.

Counselor Thought - Celia Huey

I’m going to tell a story of a very unusual friendship. When I was in 7th grade I decided I wanted to volunteer in a nursing home. Even though I was just 13 years old I had spent a lot of time in nursing homes with my grand parents and realizes I really enjoyed helping care for the elderly. So my mom helped me get a volunteer position at the nursing home across from my school. Since I was so young my only job was to just talk to the residents on the memory unit. There I met a man, Mr. M. He was in his late 80s and wa raised in NY all his life by his big Italian family. Every Thursday and Friday afternoon I would beeline to Mr. Ms room and we would talk and play cards until my mom came to get me at 6pm. After a while I started to refer to volunteering as just hanging out with Mr. M. Over the year we talked about everything you could think of. He was a war veteran and told me all about his time there and showed me his scars. He was also a musician in New York and tole me about Frank Sinatra. He always made sure I was doing well in school, was being good for my parents, and was being nice to my sister. I met his family and his amazing wife who always brought me a snack. After a few months when he would introduce me to people he would call me his granddaughter. He gave me the kind of advice that only comes with decades of life experience. I learned so so much from him. Sadly the school year came to a close and it was time for me to come to camp. I told him this and gave him a little card so he would remember where I went. He gave me a big hug and reminded me how awesome of a kid I am and not to settle for anything less than I deserve. When I came back from camp I learned Mr. M had passed away. I was heartbroken but looking back I can see that it was such a gift for me to learn about friendship in this way. A lot of times society doesn’t take the elderly or young children seriously. My wish to you is to go against this and find unusual friendships wherever you go.

Junior Thought - Paula

Love is not something you win, it’s something you give or receive. Love can be felt or expressed in many ways. In my life I love a lot of people: my parents, my family, my friends from school, from camp, and last but so so not least my siblings. They are the people I love the most. I’m the youngest of three and my two older siblings have been my role models all my life. My brother is the oldest he is the one I look up to most, he has showed me to have my own opinion, and he has showed me that I shouldn’t change if someone doesn't like something about me. He showed me strength and resilience. My sister is a crazy girl and now that she is not here at camp it feels like something is missing. She showed me that embarrassment doesn’t exist. That I shouldn't care about what people will think of what I do, say, or wear. She showed me that even on the worst days you can still smile, she showed me power, patience, and personality. For all of that, I love my siblings and I miss them every day. Thinking of this made me realize that love is everything.