Why I do what I do and what it means to me…
A couple of weeks ago I hosted a fellow Camp Lawrence Alumni. He stayed with me for ten days after his semester studying abroad in New Zealand before he returned home. On his last day in NZ I went to see him off at the airport, and he handed me a thank you note. The contents of that note, while I’m not going to go into details, exemplify why I do what I do. Everything in my life is about having an impact on the lives of others. Some paint masterpieces (Van Gogh, Rembrandt, Da Vinci), some write symphonies (Bach, Mozart, Beethoven), some spilt atoms (Earnest Rutherford), some fight battles (ANZAC Troops) and then there are the ‘unsung heroes’, those who go unnoticed, who work long hours and dedicate their lives to helping others survive, grow, learn and reach their potential (the teachers, the nurses, the social workers, the camp counselors). I guess I am one of those unsung heroes, one of those who dedicates their lives to making sure others can make the most of theirs and offer their contribution to society, be that as a firefighter, a teacher, a war hero, or simply a mechanic or electrician. We may not be Justin Bieber, or have invented the iPad or Facebook, but we all play an important part in the makeup of our society, and I love what I do. It is who I am, and it is what makes me happy. Regardless of the long hours, and the financial commitment I make to my ‘calling’ I am committed to continuing with it and having a lasting impact on the lives of others. That is what I do, and that is why I do it. There is no greater feeling than helping someone realise their future – be it simply shooting an arrow with success, or deciding on a future career path, knowing that you helped with that growth is magical and more valuable than anything else you can imagine.
Thank you for the kind words in your note, they mean the world to me and really reinforce the value of what I have committed my life to. And to those of you reading these ramblings, thank you for taking the time to try and understand what drives a career Summer Camper. Despite what some parents might say, it can be a career, and you too can turn your passion into your career – all you need to do is apply yourself and never give up. If you are committed you can make anything happen. I may not be there yet, but I am on the way. Stay tuned and you can join me on my journey into a career/commitment to camping…
