Besides, attending Howard University, so far, I would have to say what I’m most proud of would have to be being a Junior Counselor (JC) for the North Carolina Association of Student Councils (NCASC) Mars Hill Summer Workshop last summer. Reading this you may say I’m sure you have accomplished far more important things than being an unpaid camp counselor for only a week. But this is without a doubt an event in my life that I am most proud of so far. Not only because I was able to impact others, but because of the impact it had on me.
Mars Hill is a week long student council summer camp where hundreds of middle and high school students from all over NC go and learn things for their home councils. They stay in the dorms on campus for a week and are split into councils. During the week they attend workshops, participate in boundary breaking, folk dance, have an olympic game and SOOO much more. As a JC, I along with my partner led 19 kids for the week. I was so excited when I was chosen to be a JC and I knew it would be an awesome experience because going to Mars Hill as a delegate my sophomore year was life changing, but little did I know how much this week would impact me as a leader and overall person! I knew it would be a different type of leadership experience. Not so much of just leading chants and helping kids move in or just telling people what to do and delegating work, but taking a step back in an almost student council adviser/friend/mom/encourager position.
I had a returning council which meant all of my delegates had already been to The Hill at least once, so my partner and I had to sit down and make a plan and set goals to figure out how we would make this week that these kids have already experienced several times, different and life changing. I can say, because we did this and realized our role as JC’s were to sit back and let the kids lead their council, set us up for an amazing, life changing week.
Just sitting back and being able to literally see the shift in my council was CRAZY. At our first council meeting that Monday I remember our kids being kind of awkward and quiet and once they completed their first activity that afternoon at their general session, everyone immediately opened up! And then seeing the shift from that day to the end of the week was even crazier. And THEN actually realizing that it was my actions and leadership that made it all happen…mind blown.
My council after their first group activity at a general session
At the end of the week we had a banquet and candle lighting ceremony that followed, reflecting over the week. It is usually emotional and if you know me you KNOW I’m a whole crybaby… I literally cry when I see a cute baby or dog :/ I remember my partner and I standing together holding back tears and then seeing our council supporting each other, singing the songs, and crying, we looked at each other and completely lost it. We lost it because we realized it was because we let go, became vulnerable and let them do what needed to be done to get what they needed out of the week by leading, helping, encouraging and telling them its okay to mess up. NEVER in a million years would I have thought I would actually have that type of impact on someone’s life… let alone 19 people. I am still here today because of student council and the people that have impacted me and instilled words of encouragement into my life. I’m standing and can say I am a strong leader and my story is what makes me stronger.
I remember after the candle lighting ceremony, the JC’s walked out first and we all just kind sobbed in a group hug before the kids came out. Because we had been together before the week even started, stayed up until 4 am writing magic cards while making pb&j’s with “borrowed” knives from the cafe and all had the same passion and purpose. We were also extra emotional because the NCASC has been a part of our lives for years and we all lived and breathed stuco. But, because we graduated high school that season was over 🙁 And then when the kids came…. oh man, let me just say thank God for water proof makeup. Having my kids come up to me barely able to speak while crying thanking me for being the best JC they’ve ever had and saying how much they love me…wow. I also remember one delegate specifically coming up to me and saying he knew he wasn’t in my council but he just wanted to thank me for being awesome and for what I did during the week and literally broke down in my arms. I really didn’t understand the power of my leadership until that moment. The rising seniors from my high school were coming up to me begging me not to leave and thanking me for what I did for them during the school year…CRAZY. And then my student council adviser came up to me in tears saying how proud of me she was and how thankful she was to have worked with me. To some, all of this crying may seem excessive because camp was literally a week but we spent every second of that week together, ate, slept, learned, cried, laughed, played, and so much more that can’t even be put into words. I know the impact I made and the one that was made on me was life changing.
My council, council I, literally stole my heart! I am so thankful that they believed in me and allowed me to add a little pizzaz to their Mars Hill magic. They were so caring, kind, inclusive, and outstanding. Council I forever! 💚🦎
And my partner… listen. I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect partner. We had so much in common; we both went on cross country trips and we both love Chance the Rapper. I remember one time during an activity in our council meeting we were playing Chance over the speakers and Mixtape came on in the shuffle. We both looked at each other and literally dove for the phone trying to change the song and were yelling over the lyrics. It’s still crazy to me a whole year later that we both started the week off nervous, but once we set some goals and took a couple breathers, we had the best week ever. We were literally finishing each other’s sentences & always had the same ideas! I’m glad that together we got to see the impact of the mars hill magic on our council and realize the power that our leadership had.
My love for kids, leadership, and planning honestly can’t be put into words, but my work with it all has without a doubt led me to my passion and purpose in life. I’m beyond thankful for the opportunities that have been granted to me and the ones to come!
