Last week, I worked at Youth Leadership Forum camp in Chickasha, Oklahoma. While I had been looking forward to YLF, I was not exactly sure what to expect and therefore was not as excited as I get about other forthcoming events. However, YLF far surpassed my expectations, and I had a phenomenal week. Following staff training on Monday, the campers arrived on Tuesday morning, some of them 2 hours early because they were so anticipating the week. The first thing I noticed about my campers is that they were all extremely high functioning. After working for nearly three summers at a camp which accepts people with an immensely wide disability range, this was a surprise to me. I was even more shocked to find out that all of the campers were responsible for their own personal care needs- another big change from Camp Summit. Our group was shy at first (minus one boy, who I found out later actually lives on my street) but opened up as the week went by. I feel like we made good connections with all of the students in our group and gave them some valuable resources they can use in the pursuit of their goals. My favorite thing about this camp is that it is that it is a leadership camp for people with disabilities. I would venture to say that most people do not think people with disabilities have leadership skills. I loved sitting down with the campers at night, hearing the goals they have for their lives, and realizing that they could actually accomplish those goals. We got to go with the kids one day to the Oklahoma State Capitol, where they were able to sit on the House of Representatives floor and debate a bill. They got to be treated like competent, worthy adults. Here are two quick examples of what YLF is all about.
1. Duane
I know you're not supposed to have favorite campers, but Duane was definitely mine. Duane was loud, hilarious, and socially awkward, but most importantly, he was himself and everyone loved him for it. From his weak social skills and apparent lack of common sense, one might assume that Duane could not accomplish much with his life. After talking with him throughout the week, though, we learned that he has plans to become a robotic engineer- and honestly I think he could do it and love it. Duane had us all in stitches at various times throughout the week- singing EVERY WORD of a rendition of Hakuna Matata, racing around the dance floor instead of dancing, and introducing himself to everyone as "____ Duane ____, and I'll be a SENIOR at Durant High School!"
2. Diamond
For whatever reason, Diamond and I just clicked. We really couldn't be more opposite in many ways, but that didn't matter. Diamond wants to be a special ed teacher. As we were filling out paperwork, I noticed that Diamond has A LOT of difficulty with reading and writing. A lot. She said she has struggled all through school with this, so she will be able to understand kids in her class who are having difficulties. She has already been accepted to Cameron University, and I think she'll make a better teacher than me one day.
I'm not sure YLF holds the same place in my heart that Camp Summit does, but it is a great place nonetheless.
I was commended at camp this past week for missing out on all the hard work of moving. People asked me if I had planned that on purpose. I hadn't. We have unbelievable families and a great church family who made the transition seamless. I never thought we would be settled into our home a mere two days after picking up the U-Haul truck, but all we lack is hanging a couple of things on the walls! The past few days, I have felt like I am just playing house. Our new home is beautiful, and I am still surprised that it is actually ours. I pray that we will be good stewards of this place and use our home to reach out to our community.
Back to the "best summer ever", I will reevaluate that thought in August. Yesterday consisted of going to a job (which I love) in the morning, laying out by the pool with a friend, eating freezy pops, having dinner with church friends, and coming back to a new home with my sweet husband. That's a pretty good summer day, I'd say.
In Christ alone,
Mary Rachel
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