杰斯延命菊, a Camp Good Mourning volunteer and instructor at the University of North Dakota, wrote this open letter to the parents of Deane B., Wade, and Wyatt, volunteers at the 2016 Camp Good Mourning.
Coming from a family of sports fanatics, my son had barely entered the world when my husband and I began fielding the big question, “你儿子会玩什么运动??”
As entertaining as it is to debate this topic, it is the least of my concerns as a new mother. 而不是, I lie awake holding our sleeping child at night and ask myself, ‘How do we raise a young man who is selfless? 我们如何教导骑士精神? How can we show him the value of honest, hard work?’
After spending the weekend volunteering with your sons, I realized I should ask you these parenting questions because clearly, 你知道答案.
I met your sons through my work for 奥特鲁健康系统. I was tasked with coordinating volunteers for 奥特鲁临终关怀营好哀悼, an annual grief camp for children and teens. Each year, as soon as our application opens, females immediately sign up to volunteer. However, males are not as quick to apply. A month before the event, I posted on social media a desperate cry for male volunteers. Thankfully, many men, including your sons, responded to this plea.
夏令营前两周, your 20-year-old sons received an email stating they were not assigned to be counselors. 而不是, they would be helping with arts and crafts.
Although this was not what your sons signed up for, I never received a message saying any of them wanted to back out. I never heard an excuse or complaint, even though they would be giving up an entire summer weekend to lead kids in painting and making tie-dye projects. 而不是, they showed up to camp ready to take on the challenge.
Embracing Their Role and Going the Extra Mile
These three men impressed me and the entire staff from the moment camp began. They didn’t just go through the motions; they went the extra mile and completely embraced their role as arts and crafts counselors, 带着谦逊和责任感.
当他们到达营地时, these men learned they were in charge of teaching campers how to make jewelry from t-shirts. Deane, Wade, and Wyatt took notes as they received a crash course on jewelry-making. They borrowed a fellow volunteer’s phone to look on Pinterest and learn different ways to create bracelets and necklaces. They even researched how to make fishtail braids as a technique to show campers. 几乎没有事先通知, they did everything in their power to be the best shirt jewelry designer in the state of North Dakota.
Throughout the weekend, Deane, Wade, and Wyatt were selfless and empathic. In between activities, they could have taken naps or sat in the lounge. 而不是, they walked around camp asking staff members what they could do to be helpful. 他们移动桌子, 清理油漆, 盘点工艺用品, and helped campers make more than 100 s’mores. They swept floors without being asked, and they did every task with enthusiasm. When young campers set up a nail polish station, they agreed to be their customers even though that meant they would go through the entire weekend with colored nails.
Deane, Wade, and Wyatt did everything with passion and purpose. I hope to have them back at camp so they can be role models to fellow volunteers. It was a privilege to volunteer with them at camp, and it would be an honor to work with them in the years to come.
As a mom, I can see how hard it is to raise good kids. It gives me hope to see what a great job you did as parents and, 就像我儿子长大一样, 我希望能灌输类似的美德.
杰斯延命菊 is a Camp Good Mourning volunteer and instructor in the Communications department at the University of North Dakota. After completing her undergraduate degree in Ohio and her master’s degree in Illinois, she backpacked through Europe to explore different cultures first-hand. Jess is a wife and mother who enjoys running, organizing, and technology.
