I was the fat kid at camp

I was the fat kid at camp.

This fact shaped my entire camp experience.

Being the fat kid was not easy, kids made fun of me, names were called, fights happened.

You might think that I would grow to not like camp.

What made the difference for me?

The staff – the way the staff helped me in my times of trouble. The words spoken, the hugs given, the ongoing encouragement, the reconciliation with other campers.

The camp staff made all the difference.

This is why I grew to love camp – the staff accepted me for who I was. They believed in me.