Middler Vespers, July 19, 2020 – Creativity
While reflecting on some of my most creative moments in life, the first instance that came to mind was June 2010, a couple of weeks prior to my first summer at Camp. I always knew I had to go to camp, I just didn’t really process it until I saw the duffels and camp equipment piling up in my living room. Upon this realization, my nine-year-old self went into panic mode. I was going to be in a far-away place, for seven weeks, surrounded by strangers. Logically, I started by recruiting some of my best friends from school to come to camp with me. And then, of course, we had to come up with a plan to pay for camp. We settled on an art museum. For the next couple of weeks, we made drawings, priced them out, hung them up in my apartment and charged admission to our museum. In spite of my best efforts, my master plan did not come to fruition. I was distraught.
Obviously, that initial feeling of distress did not last long. This summer is my 11th summer on Sebago. And, now, rather than channeling all my creative energy into avoiding Camp, I use Camp as a space to recharge my creative batteries.
Throughout my summers at Wawenock, technology has become pervasive in our everyday lives. Social media and internet trends all too often define the way we interact. Nowadays, too many people hangout for the sole purpose of keeping up appearances. “Quality time” with friends has taken new forms–posing for Instagram pictures, or learning the newest Tik Tok dance. There is nothing wrong with participating in social media trends every once in a while– they can be fun and silly. However, when these trends consume our time together, they drain our creative processes. New trends pop up so quickly, that we hardly have time to learn them before we are already behind on the next. The cyclical and instantaneous nature of the internet rarely gives us time to be creative for ourselves. This is where Camp comes in.
At Camp, we are physically and mentally removed from the rush of technology. We have the time and space to think for ourselves– to move away from the trends set by others and to begin forging our own paths. And let me tell you guys– forging your own path is not going to be easy and it’s going to require a lot of creativity. But, before you start freaking out, remember: creativity at camp is contagious. Everything we do here is a creative exercise– from the way we play, to the way we learn in our activities, to the way we adapt traditions to each new camp season. Just last week, my household and I created a brand-new game called “Dougus and Angle.” And, I was able to teach 9 tennis classes and 3 riding classes in the middle of a global pandemic. From Wawenock, I have learned how to approach high-stake situations and down-time creatively. Creativity is the key to success– both inside and out of Camp.
Don’t discredit yourself as a creative person just because you aren’t “good at the arts.” Creativity manifests itself in many different ways– it is unique to every individual, as is the creative process. The truth of the matter is: if we are challenging ourselves to think creatively, we are going to mess up. Thinking creatively means going into uncharted territory, going where no one has ever gone before. That said, I challenge each and every one of you to be forgiving to yourselves and others as you embark on your creative journeys. Rather than saying “sorry,” ask yourself how you can do better next time. Thinking creatively should not be punishing– it should be rewarding and fun.
Creativity is being the truest version of yourself because creativity is inextricably linked with originality and individuality.
– Ana Berman (camper ‘10-‘17, staff ‘18-’20)