Work Hard & Be Kind
My most recent article for my staff newsletter, Exit 30.
Work Hard & Be Kind
Whether or not you have followed it, I am sure you have heard the news surrounding Conan O’Brien’s sudden departure from the Tonight Show. Though most anyone who watches late night television has an opinion on the matter, I do not wish to discuss the inner-workings of network television. However, while watching Conan O’Brien’s last Tonight Show, I was moved by a particular sentiment he expressed: “If you work hard, and you’re kind, I’m telling you, amazing things will happen.”
If you watch the clip, you will see that Conan also states that “Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get.” This is a universal fact, but it is nonetheless a painful reality for all who experience it. If you ever fell in love in High School, applied for your dream job, or spent any amount of time in a casino, chances are you have felt the pain of disappointment. And it is easy to allow this type of let-down make us cynical.
Those of you who worked at camp last summer probably had those moments—when a camper you had connected with acted out and misbehaved, or when a counselor you were friends with talked about you behind your back. There are plenty of opportunities at camp to feel hurt or let down and become cynical. But for every reason to get frustrated, there are dozens more to be filled with hope and enthusiasm. When something at camp doesn’t go your way, remember the camper who sought you out for a hug during the finale, or the ones who lit up when they learned something new in your program area. Remember the looks on the campers’ faces as they looked up at the stars or down on the campfire, and remember the lasting friendships you formed with your fellow counselors.
It seems that all too often we focus on the negative. But we have the choice. Do we hold on to the frustrations or the celebrations? Do we choose cynicism or optimism? Do we give up, or do we work hard and work to be kind? We know that you know the right answers to those questions. When you are hired at cam,p you are hired to be a role model, and to make the right decisions. It is up to you to do what you know is right, whether you are at camp, in college, or at home. Choose optimism, choose to let the frustrations go and embrace the fun. We’re counting on you.