Almost every student in Harford County has the same favorite memory from elementary school: Harford Glen. It’s the 3 days in fifth grade where you finally get to escape the classroom, sleep in a bunk, and get completely covered in mud. We all remember the excitement of the bus ride, the smell of the campfire, and the weird, fun songs. But when you go back as a high school counselor, you realize that the magic doesn’t just happen on its own. It happens because someone with a homemade badge was working hard to make it happen.
I signed up to be a counselor mostly because I wanted a break from my AP classes. I thought it would be an easy week off, just hanging out in the woods and missing some AP Language and Composition homework. I was completely wrong. Being a counselor at Harford Glen isn’t a vacation; it is probably the hardest job a high schooler can have. But it is also the most rewarding thing I have done in my entire school career.
The first thing that hits you is the responsibility. In high school, we are used to only worrying about ourselves. Did I do my homework? Did I study for the test? At The Glen (as they call it), that selfish mindset must disappear immediately. Suddenly, you are the “teacher” for a cabin full of 9-year-olds who have never been away from home before without their family. You are the one who has to make sure they brush their teeth, take a shower, and actually sleep, instead of talking all night and crawling around on the floor. It is exhausting. You learn very quickly that leadership isn’t about bossing people around; it’s about taking care of them so they can have a good time.
Another huge shock is the ‘digital detox.’ We are so used to having our phones glued to our hands or in our pockets that the idea of going a whole week without social media sounds terrifying. But at the Glen, counselors aren’t allowed to be on their phones around the kids or at night. At first, I felt disconnected, but by the second day, I realized I was more connected. I wasn’t looking at a screen; I was looking at ways for the kids to have more fun. I wasn’t texting my friends; I was talking to a fifth grader who was scared of the dark. You realize how much of life we miss when we look down.
The coolest part is seeing the trip through the kids’ eyes. To them, you aren’t just a regular high school student; you are a rock star. They listen to everything you say. If you complain about the cold, they will complain. But if you get excited about finding a bug under a rock, they get excited too. It made me realize how much influence we actually have. We set the tone. It taught me that my attitude affects everyone around me, a lesson I’m going to carry with me into high school.
So, why should you apply to be a counselor? It’s not just for the resume boost; although it does look good, trust me. You should do it because it forces you to grow up. You learn to be patient, to solve problems on the fly, and to appreciate nature in a way you didn’t when you were nine. You leave the Glen tired, smelling like woodsmoke, and behind on your math work. But you also leave with a sense of accomplishment that you can’t get from a textbook. It’s a rite of passage for a reason, and it’s an experience every Harford County student should try to have.
