My first year was plagued with homesickness. I was nine, in a foreign country with one person I knew, my sister. My older sister: outgoing, brilliant, everyone’s favorite. She dropped me the first day. I was shy, withdrawn, and alienated. I had never been away from home for more than a few days, let alone three weeks. What made my experience so difficult was not just the homesickness but the extreme physical demands I faced.
Camp Ak-O-Mak (Ontario, Canada) is not a traditional camp. It was the first and remains the only women’s open water swim training camp in the world. Twice a day swim training, weekly triathlons competitions, open water swim races of every conceivable distance. It was hard. I was exhausted and hated every minute of it. The camp motto is “Tough Enough?” I decided I was not. I didn’t care. I vowed to never go back.
Nine years later, Ahmic Harbor, Ontario, is my favorite place …show more content…
I confidently showcased my athletic abilities and at thirteen I pushed myself to a new level-- The MAG. This is a continuous 9 mile open water swim from camp to the town of Magnetawan. Each athlete is accompanied by a canoe and two safety observers. I completed it in three hours and 33 minutes. This is one of my proudest moments. It couldn’t have been possible without letting go of my fears and insecurities.
My role at camp shifted recently from camper to counselor. I am incredibly proud that my mentors and coaches recruited me to continue the tradition of excellence as a staff member. My leadership skills, organizational abilities and patience are tested through the responsibility of caring daily over eight weeks for 16 young girls. My co-counselors and I are in charge of everything: program development and ideas, midnight flashlight washroom runs (Canada eh!), cheerleading tired athletes, mediating preteen arguments and homesickness. I am a certified pro in diverting
Camp Ak-O-Mak (Ontario, Canada) is not a traditional camp. It was the first and remains the only women’s open water swim training camp in the world. Twice a day swim training, weekly triathlons competitions, open water swim races of every conceivable distance. It was hard. I was exhausted and hated every minute of it. The camp motto is “Tough Enough?” I decided I was not. I didn’t care. I vowed to never go back.
Nine years later, Ahmic Harbor, Ontario, is my favorite place …show more content…
I confidently showcased my athletic abilities and at thirteen I pushed myself to a new level-- The MAG. This is a continuous 9 mile open water swim from camp to the town of Magnetawan. Each athlete is accompanied by a canoe and two safety observers. I completed it in three hours and 33 minutes. This is one of my proudest moments. It couldn’t have been possible without letting go of my fears and insecurities.
My role at camp shifted recently from camper to counselor. I am incredibly proud that my mentors and coaches recruited me to continue the tradition of excellence as a staff member. My leadership skills, organizational abilities and patience are tested through the responsibility of caring daily over eight weeks for 16 young girls. My co-counselors and I are in charge of everything: program development and ideas, midnight flashlight washroom runs (Canada eh!), cheerleading tired athletes, mediating preteen arguments and homesickness. I am a certified pro in diverting