Reflections on Camp Joy

Today my whole grade went to Camp Joy, where we spent the day doing team-building exercises as well as personal strength-building ones. We did a trust walk where we were all blind-folded and we had to find our way across a field into a building, we had to work together to get everyone up and over what must have been a ten foot high wall, and we each got to take a "quantum leap" off of a very high ladder, with all of our peers helping to hold the ladder up with ropes and keeping it steady. We've been to Camp Joy three times in the past three years, and I think this was the best time yet, for everyone was really involved. Everyone wanted to solve the problems we were given, and everyone wanted to succeed. And the people who led us through the exercises asked us after each one what the activity could resemble in real life - so the challenges never ended. Here are some reflections from the day, which stem from some of the other activities we've done over freshman immersion (which is formally called Inward Bound, Outward Bound...you'll definitely hear more later).

Competition

Competition gets people external recognition and the admiration of others, which is natural, considering the lengths they must go to in order to be “the best.” We must admire them – it is, at the least, the cultural norm. However, many of these people find themselves aimless and unable to act without the pressure of competition, while others – who may not outperform others in a competition – are internally motivated. These people constantly carry motivation around in their hearts, and try as they might, it is impossible for them to dispel it.

Personal Achievements and Goals

I saw someone today climb a ladder in about seven minutes which it took almost everyone else in the room about one or two minutes to climb. She hesitated almost every step, babbling on and on every time she stopped about how she couldn’t go any farther. Yet, when her peers encouraged her to climb higher – to take just one more step – she eventually did. And slowly, steadily, step by step, she made her way to the top of the ladder.

While others climbed the ladder in seconds, slithering their way up like monkeys – a feat which was surely admirable and deserving of praise – I found her struggle even more endearing. We were able to see every difficult step clearly in front of us – every doubt, every fear, every misgiving and every inkling of bravery, blazoned clear in front of us. This process, and this accomplishment, was even more impressive to me than those who confidently raced their way up. She took her time, and there were so many times when she could have jumped off, but she waited, thought, and listened to the encouragement of her peers – and she truly stepped out of her comfort zone.

Cooperation

Many times today, I found myself in a leadership position. This happened because I wanted to get things done and I had ideas about how to do so. Apparently these must have been at least moderately good ideas, for people agreed with them. I like this feeling – leading and standing out in the group. But there are times when, for the sake of the group as a whole, you’ve got to back down and let someone else have control, otherwise there’s too much chaos. But this is no way means that you should tune out and consider your part over. I believe that the mark of a good leader is someone who knows when to listen and hang back, but pays attention the whole time so that they can step in when they’re really needed.