Where to even begin? I just got home from the craziest most
incredible two months in awhile. So much happened that even trying to organize
my thoughts is quite the challenge. I went into my job as a TA for NSLC
expecting to have some fun, interact with some cool high school kids and see
San Francisco. Boy, was I wrong. Yes, I did do all those things but I did so
much more. As much as I thought this job would be about the kids in all of the
sessions, I feel like I benefited more from the entire summer than they did!
I’ve never had so many boundaries pushed (again and again and again). I can’t even remember the person I was when I
arrived on campus and I think that’s for the better. I’ve grown as a person in
more ways than I’m sure I’ve noticed and I feel more like myself than I have in
a long time. I’ve realized its my imperfections that make me who I am and there’s
no use tying to change them. I’ve learned to take risks again and roll with the
punches, enjoy life as it comes. In the words of Blaken “embrace my inner
weirdo.” Speaking of Blaken, now its time for my lovey dovey I love my staff
family rant. I remember the very first staff meeting when the site director
Jason told us we would love the job and everything that comes along with it but
the real bonus was the people you get to interact with on the staff. Let me
tell ya, he was completely right. I’ve never been so positively affected by a
group of people ever and they’ve definitely become my NSLC family. I was trying
to think of a quirky way to describe everyone (I got nada, the whole emotional
sobbing thing is really getting in the way of my attempted humor). The best
I’ve got is MTV throw back of Real World: NSLC, where people stop being polite
and start being real. The only difference is we were never not polite and we
were real from the get go. OH maybe it took a few days of warming up to each
other but I’ve never worked in such a genuine, quirky work environment with
such kind-hearted and sincere people which of course led to such incredibly
organic friendships that I’m hoping last a long time. I guess that’s what happens when you spend
basically all day everyday (and nights for that matter if its de-reg day!)
together. I noticed the kids would get all “sappy, crying, miss you bffs” after
10 days and I always thought it was so neat, but I never quite picked up on the
fact that that was happening to me the whole two months. It makes me think of
that song “you don’t know what you’ve got till its gone”. Except, I sort of
knew what I had but it didn’t really hit me how cool and neat it was till I had
to leave. A truly stinkin awesome experience. Will my journey with the NSLC be over? Only time will tell but I sure hope not!
