Leading By Example

Leading By Example
Nadia

As a former participant in the Fostering Success program, a camp for youth in foster care, sixteen year-old Nadia returned to Camp Joy as a Counselor-In-Training (CIT) and made a positive impact along the way. Nadia remembers her camp experience as “really great” because she felt appreciated by other campers and counselors alike: “We got to know each other very well and hear everyone’s story. The counselors were awesome because they really listened to what you had to say and understood what you were going through.”

Because of Nadia’s experience in the Fostering Success program, she chose to become a CIT this summer. Now she has the chance to positively impact other camper’s experiences: “I have always wanted to help people, and I want to be a counselor to do things for other kids that were done for me.”

One of Nadia’s most cherished experiences at camp occurred during her time as a CIT, when one of her campers showed her appreciation for all that Nadia has done: “One night we were trying to do something fun and one of my little girls seemed really scared, so I had to talk her through it. At the end of the night before going to bed, she came up and hugged me and told me she loved me. It was probably one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had.”