I am not that special. My parents are married to each other. I have never really experienced prejudice or racism or abuse. I am an average kid with an above average IQ. I am a Christian. I can attend the church I choose. I have never gone to bed hungry. I can feed myself, bathe myself, and I am toilet trained. Why is this important? Because I didn’t realize there were people my age who had been seriously abused, can’t feed themselves or bathe themselves, or even tell anyone what they might need. My life was changed one summer in Centerpoint, Texas at a place called Camp CAMP.
From an outsider’s perspective, Camp CAMP is a place where people with special needs have an opportunity to experience summer camp and feel “normal”. The outsider’s …show more content…
Before, I was worried about the awkwardness when I had to bathe him or take him to the restroom, but he had such a great sense of humor we would just talk about girls or his favorite wrestler to pass the time. From the outside, if you compare Pacific and I, you won’t find any physical characteristic that are very similar. However, if you look deep down and analyze our personalities, you would see that we are nearly the same person. He was just like me. After I put him to bed I began to think about the memories we’d already created. Each morning, he’d ask me what we were doing that day and then we’d be on our way to start the day. He loved the pool. He loved to swim around with me in the lazy river and chase people around it like we were cops. I’d look over at him as we chased another camper and saw the joy on his face. I wanted time to stop. I wanted to be with him for the rest of my life because, in this moment of time, we were both full of happiness and …show more content…
Earlier in the week Pacific was telling me about his ‘game’, so I encouraged him to ask a girl (or two) to the dance. He was shy at first and would cover his face with his hat. Finally, the night before the dance he asked one of the nurses and she said yes. I was amazed by his courage. I was also happy for him because he was so ecstatic! As I started dressing him the next morning he told me to make sure we put some cologne on for later. I guess he does have ‘game’. During the dance all I could do was watch in awe as all of the campers were so incredibly happy. Everywhere I turned, I saw smiles on faces and moves get busted out. I heard laughter from campers that were dancing. Campers and counselors from such different places and with different hopes and dreams but in that moment I realized how we are all the same. I felt at peace and at home. It was the most unbelievable feeling. I truly wanted time to stand still and cherish this moment forever. It was then that I understood the whole point of Camp CAMP. The next day all the campers went home. I didn’t want him to leave. As I said goodbye, he started crying. He then said, “I love you, Joey. Thank you for the best week of my life.” I then began crying with him after giving up on trying to fight back tears. I told him that he’d better come back so I can see him again. When he left, I felt
From an outsider’s perspective, Camp CAMP is a place where people with special needs have an opportunity to experience summer camp and feel “normal”. The outsider’s …show more content…
Before, I was worried about the awkwardness when I had to bathe him or take him to the restroom, but he had such a great sense of humor we would just talk about girls or his favorite wrestler to pass the time. From the outside, if you compare Pacific and I, you won’t find any physical characteristic that are very similar. However, if you look deep down and analyze our personalities, you would see that we are nearly the same person. He was just like me. After I put him to bed I began to think about the memories we’d already created. Each morning, he’d ask me what we were doing that day and then we’d be on our way to start the day. He loved the pool. He loved to swim around with me in the lazy river and chase people around it like we were cops. I’d look over at him as we chased another camper and saw the joy on his face. I wanted time to stop. I wanted to be with him for the rest of my life because, in this moment of time, we were both full of happiness and …show more content…
Earlier in the week Pacific was telling me about his ‘game’, so I encouraged him to ask a girl (or two) to the dance. He was shy at first and would cover his face with his hat. Finally, the night before the dance he asked one of the nurses and she said yes. I was amazed by his courage. I was also happy for him because he was so ecstatic! As I started dressing him the next morning he told me to make sure we put some cologne on for later. I guess he does have ‘game’. During the dance all I could do was watch in awe as all of the campers were so incredibly happy. Everywhere I turned, I saw smiles on faces and moves get busted out. I heard laughter from campers that were dancing. Campers and counselors from such different places and with different hopes and dreams but in that moment I realized how we are all the same. I felt at peace and at home. It was the most unbelievable feeling. I truly wanted time to stand still and cherish this moment forever. It was then that I understood the whole point of Camp CAMP. The next day all the campers went home. I didn’t want him to leave. As I said goodbye, he started crying. He then said, “I love you, Joey. Thank you for the best week of my life.” I then began crying with him after giving up on trying to fight back tears. I told him that he’d better come back so I can see him again. When he left, I felt