The prompt is:
Describe a circumstance, obstacle or conflict in your life, and the skills and resources you used to resolve it. Did it change you? If so, how?
One of the most challenging conflicts I have ever experienced in my life was going to Riverbend Retreat Camp as a junior counselor. Not because of the children, nor because of the sweltering summer heat. What made this week-long trip so difficult for me was my fellow junior counselor, Shelby.
From a passing glance, you would have guessed that Shelby and I got along fairly well. We had many similar traits that should have made us compatible-- or so you might think. I came to camp that week with one main goal: to give children an amazing week filled with fun, whereas Shelby only came to camp to accompany her shy younger sister.
This made getting along with one another very difficult. When I was trying to get our group of girls to participate in a game, she was sitting away from our group talking to her younger sister. When I was trying to relax for a moment after corralling our group of girls and leading them to the arts-and-crafts station Shelby told me we needed to go to the lake because her younger sister wanted to go. The most frustrating situation at camp for me was when Shelby gave her sister an entire package of glow sticks when the rest of our group didn't have enough for each girl to have one.
After much consideration, I decided to ask one of our counselor's for her wisdom. Our adults in life can sometimes be the most valuable resources that we take for granted. I explained how I felt and expressed that I wasn't interested in getting Shelby into trouble. She advised me to tell Shelby how I was feeling and try to resolve my frustrations with her. So what did I do that evening? I asked Shelby is we could speak privately.
I confided in Shelby that I was really frustrated with the immature way she had been acting. She admitted that she had been very immature, and told me that what I had seen as "helpful suggestions" were nagging orders and scornful scoldings. After we had taken a few moments to understand one another, we were able to work together better. I gave her more leniency with her sister and she made more effort to help me with our group.
This friction between Shelby and I was soothed by the heart-to-heart that we had shared. I am grateful that I asked our adult counselor for her perspective on the conflict. Without her advice, I know certainly that Shelby and I would have ended up fighting even worse than we had been. Many people believe that conflicts or obstacles in life are inconvenient and have no other purpose than to frustrate you and slow you down. While I believe that these instances are inconvenient and frustrating, I disagree that they have no good benefits. This experience taught me that there is more than one side to every story, and each side is important to learn.
END OF ESSAY. Thank you for your advice!
- This has made getting..
- The most frustrating situation at the camp for me was when
- ...one of our counselor's for her words of wisdom.
- Our adults in lifeAdults can sometimes be the..
- most valuable resources that we take for granted.
- I asked Shelby isif we could speak privately.
- This friction between Shelby and I was soothed by theresolved with a heart-to-heart talk that we had shared.
- I am grateful that I asked our adultsenior counselor for her...
- I certainly know certainly that Shelby and I
It seems to me that this weekend turned out very well, you have learned valuable lessons in life that will help you become a better person than you are now.
