Friday, August 8, 2025, was my last day at Camp Lakeside, and I am going to miss it terribly. There were so many lessons learned, rewarding moments, bonds created, that it became painful to let the summer end. As part of Camp Lakeside’s group of counselors, I spent the summer supporting
the children’s leadership in their activities and providing personal support to each of the campers’ different needs, I bonded with my coworkers and with the campers. I had a wonderful time.
Despite all the joy and appreciation that I experienced during this internship, there were also challenging and exhausting moments, especially during my first contacts with new children. All typical and atypical children have different views of the world and different needs, and learning how to deal with each different type of crisis is an arduous but achievable process. Learning the right approach for a child and being able to overcome challenges with it is rewarding.
As human beings we are constantly evolving, but as a child, small growths become evident in a short space of time. Creating a bond with a child and seeing them develop so quickly fills my heart with pride and makes me wish I could live that summer all over again. In addition, being able to recognize the different needs of different people made me feel that I was in the right place.
The CAPS program not only gave me the opportunity to experience an incredible summer alongside amazing people, but it also opened my eyes to what makes me happy and gives me pleasure. Through the reflections made during the summer I deepened my knowledge of a world I had never been part of – that of people with disabilities, and I realized that working with people is not just about communication, it is about empathy and the desire to transmit joy. My heart filled with joy every time one of the campers, diagnosed with Down’s Syndrome, gave me a smiling “Hi” and opened his arms to hug me. He did this several times a day, and I loved every one of them. It would be a privilege to be able to call this a profession.
CAPS is designed to offer us an experience of leadership and service, but for me it was more than that, it was an opportunity of personal and professional growth. I learned skills of care and affection, I empathized with children and parents, I avoided knowing which children had a diagnosis and which didn’t, giving me the chance to use my perception to notice the different behaviors and needs. I enjoyed the experience 100%, and if I had the chance, I would do it all over again.
This fall is my last semester, and this summer has served as a compass for me, directing me towards the path I want to pursue after graduation. This summer was the end of a route guided by CAPS, but graduation will be the beginning of a beautiful journey of dedication and work. My calling is to serve people in need, and I will follow it.
Larissa Pina, Camp Lakeside