Benefits

I feel like there are so many benefits to this job, that I'm almost at a loss for where to start.  Most of the what I gained from the experience had to do with things that I picked up about myself that I might not have discovered otherwise.  I was amazed to find my patience tested further than it ever had been at times, and I was pleased to find that when I needed to maintain composure I was able to exercise it.  At times it was extremely difficult not to look at one of the kids who had been making some kind of cruel remark to another camper and cut him down a peg with my own two cents.  I was very relieved to know that when necessary, however, I wouldn't let the kids down by stooping to that level.  Rather I could draw up the patience and maturity to do the right thing and count the offending camper.  I was also really happy to work on active listening.  I wasn't sure how well I would do with it, and I'm sure I was pretty rusty at first, but by the end of camp I felt like the kids  seemed more comfortable opening up, which I took as a good sign.  A benefit that doesn't relate directly to the kids so much would be having the opportunity to work with eight other students that I really had not met prior to this summer.  It was great to work on a team comprised of people with diverse interests and see everyone come together for the kids.  Overall, I'd say that knowing the kids had a good time, made some friends, and improved behavior and social skills is a huge benefit, because I can feel a great deal of satisfaction knowing that I helped make that possible.