I posted a little bit here a few months ago, and people asked me then to come back and talk about how I've changed since then. I'm back.
For those who missed it, I used to be quite quiet, maybe a little shy, few friends and all that jazz. Pretty much, my life sucked, or so I thought.
For the summer I worked as a camp counselor. I spent 9 weeks with campers (ages 10-12) and other counselors of about my age. I had little interest in coming back this year due to my experience last year (another long story), but I did anyways, and I am very glad I did. I had the best summer of my life, and at the same time probably the most influencial summer aswell.
Returning to camp, I knew very few people, and considering my personality, I was having a hard time fitting in. The first 2 weeks I was there I felt like an outcast. Though, as those 2 weeks went by I didn't realize I was making some of the best friends I could have. When the third week came, I was already close with a group of maybe 5 people, and I mean talk-about-anything close. These are the kind of friends I have wanted for a while.
By the middle of the third week, I realized how close I was with a certain girl. When I finally decided to tell her how I felt, I found out she had feelings for me too. We are now happily dating.
Another one of my friend's and I both enjoyed to play pool whenever possible, and during those games we had deep discusions on topics like personal development, and other deep topics such as "why are we here". I found it comfortable to talk to him about this kind of stuff, and I think he is the first person I have actually talked to out loud about it. We keep in close touch and know we can come to eachother, with the most outragess questions.
Camp changed me quite a bit. I think it took the edge off my quietness. I learned to be able to be my self, and not care if people have things to say about that. Since I got back about a week and a half ago, I no longer seem to be quiet or shy, or at least not as badly as I was. I know now that the friends I have are the friends I chose, and just because I seem to be quiet at times I really am not. In general, my entire self image has changed. I have been in a great mood since the day I got back. I have been more serious about my senior year at high school, and I am more determined to work on my personal development.
Since my social skills no longer seem as bad as they were in the past, I think I need to focus more on my purpose in life, what I am meant to do. If you guys have any advice, it would be appreciated.
My summer has changed me in a great way, and I am very happy now. I hope you other guys out there who are having similar problems can have such an uplifting experience as I have and maybe learn the lessons I have. Life IS what you make it, and I think I have made mine a lot better.
Thank you guys