Our Columbus Foundation Fellow meetings have been immensely thought-provoking for me. Yesterday, there were many moments that inspired me to think deeper about my summer in its entirety and many situations I’ve found myself questioning throughout the summer.

One of these moments was when a peer in my fellow cohort said that we can never get upset with a child who displays negative behavior when it’s likely that they aren’t being taught the difference between right and wrong at home. I’ve heard this before, but for some reason it seemed more profound when I heard it yesterday. It made me reflect on every time over the summer where I have dealt with difficult behavior. In some of these situations, I’ve become frustrated knowing that no matter what I said, the child would continue to act out. However, reflecting on this made me realize that many of these children were dealing with various issues at home; hunger, trauma, or a multitude of issues I will never know. I realized that sometimes the best thing I can offer a child is my attention and patience, rather than trying to make everything into a teachable moment.

Another, non-camp related, moment was when the CEO of the Columbus Foundation, Mr. Kridler, visited us. One thing in particular struck me. He noted how important it is to never make a decision without first having an opportunity. So many times, I’ve made a decision without even having an opportunity to decide on. Thought I cannot convey a concise description of when I’ve done this, I think it’s a common issue that many people face. We decide whether or not we want a job without having an offer; we decide whether or not we will continue our education without being accepted into a program or school. Yesterday was the first time I ever realized that I fell into the pattern of prematurely making choices. The importance of staying open and flexible shined through Mr. Kridler’s story, as even he had learned throughout his life that we must do the work to first even get an opportunity to make a decision on.

As the summer winds down, I am more inspired to reflect deeper on my experience. I hope to include these reflections on next week’s blog, as summer camp is coming to an end and I will have more time to think without feeling fried.