Yes I...

Fresh out of freshmen year was a girl

Full of hope and motivation.

Camp had ranks, I was taking silver for a whirl.

Last year was blue, the first rank.

Freshmen year, blue rank, was a roller coaster.

Emotional highs and lows, the rooster crows.

Young and innocent yes I was. Even better,

I had a temper, sown by immaturity and

Competitive drive. Losing was not an option.

A fixer upper? Yes I was.

Summer. Yes I was relieved. The pressure

Was no more. Calamity reached my sanity.

Lack of understanding raged at me with a roar

And I had a lot to learn. Then came camp.

At fifteen years of age I had responsibility,

Counselor in training. To my dismay, the youngest

Cabin was mine. Before, my ability 

To let competitiveness overcome me slaughtered

My image of example. Another CIT in my 

Cabin had the same issue. A foreboding of

Growth came upon me. Dry as a cloudless sky

Was the chemistry of the girls in the cabin.

Observant of it, yes I was.

One girl, picked out to be disliked and avoided.

The others filled with joy and childishness played.

The first’s, however, acceptance of it was void.

So, she would turn to the CITs for attention. 

Sympathetic, yes I was. 

However, my emotions were like a pot filled with soup.

Boiling, bubbling, and churning.

Out cabin had drama as much as clucks in a coup.

Yet, I warmed up to them. Encouraged the shy

To talk and the walled up to open up. 

Challenged? Yes I was.

Each rank has a self given mission. Mine?

Overcome my temper, my unhealthy fire.

That fire quenched as another was fed. Blind

No more, I gave correction and stopped a fight.

Other CIT vs. the left out girl. Strength 

Drew outta me. I told her to not argue, that 

Even if she’s right we aren’t here to fight. Length 

Of my patience extended, emotional wounds mended.

Growing? Yes I was.

After that, realization dawned on me.

Slowly but surely, I was maturing.

The need to win against little and older kids gone. Be

Stronger I told myself. And yes I was.

The ability to let go and grow came upon me.

I could now see my faults and how to improve.

Better I could be. I had found the key.

Immature? Yes I was. Better? Yes I am. Improve? Yes I will.