To be continued

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!