Why I'm an EFY Counselor

I just finished the first week of my second summer as a counselor for Especially For Youth. This program is a week-long summer camp for teenagers that belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or any others who are interested. The kids & counselors stay in dorm rooms at universities around the world for most sessions or at home for a few. Activities include group game nights, dances, classes, and a priceless amount of fun.

I was really worried about coming back to EFY this summer. Initially when I applied in October I was super stoked but since then I've spent most of my time geologizing which often contradicts with EFY and LDS standards.

I arrived in Flagstaff Sunday afternoon and all I could think of was, "oh. my. gosh... these people are SO Mormon! How the heck am I going to fit in with these people?"
(I probably didn't think "heck" though)

Sunday night I got my co-counselor and he was easily my first pick out of the 20 guys working here this week. *sigh of relief*

Monday morning came around and I finally woke up properly while we were working on the dance for this year. Oh how I missed dancing! It felt so good to get up there and show some moves.

That afternoon I got my kids. As soon as I met them I realized that they are the reason I work for EFY. They are the reason no matter how sleep deprived and cranky and impatient I am, I still keep coming back for more because they make my week perfect.

Here's the list of reasons I have come up with over this past week as to why I LOVE my job:

1. Seeing the kids transform-- These kids often come to us as typical every-day teenagers and leave as a little more mature adults with a strong testimony. That transformation process takes place in less than 5 days. 5 DAYS!! I watch miracles happen every single day as their lives and choices change.

2. I get to be a week-long parent to ~24 teenagers-- I wake them up in the morning, make sure they eat, teach them, love them, play with them, and then tuck them in to bed each night. I am the one who holds them when they cry because a boy broke their heart or a bully made fun of their clothes. I am the one they confide in and who they sneak chocolate candy bars to when they know I've had a rough day. For one week, I get to be their parent (along with the benefits of friend) and I love the relationship that develops because of that.

3. I am the favorite-- If you've been to EFY you can probably agree that you worshipped the ground your counselors walked on. How great is it that by simply being their counselor I am instantly respected, loved, and super duper popular. There's a little more work involved but those things seem to come quite easily. Everyone knows my name. I hear my name being screamed any time I get close to my company spot along with random places along the way by strangers. No matter how stupid I look when I dance, the kids think I'm cool and mimic my moves. Anything I say goes.. no contradictions because after all, I'm their counselor so shouldn't I know everything?

4. Social study time-- What better way to observe the social aspect of an age group than by incorporating yourself into it? I love taking the time to watch the relationships between everyone at EFY. It never fails to amaze me, the way these kids react to each other along with the counselors around them. I love meeting so many new people and learning about them.

5. Spiritual time-- EFY is very much for the purpose of spiritually helping the participants and counselors. I spend the entire week testifying of Christ and the pure joy and goodness He brings into our lives when we allow him to. I love constantly being in a spiritual environment where I feel good all the time. EFY allows me to not only help my kids spiritually but help myself also.

6. Awkward moments-- not a day goes by without some strange occurrence. Today there were multiple. The first was when the kids were writing letters to their future selfs and a noisy group passed. One of my boys yelled, "Hey! Shut up!! We're trying to have a spiritual experience here!!" Then at lunch someone took 1 bite out of their ice cream container and then threw it in a basket with other food headed to the trash. Another boy grabbed the basket and spent the next 2 minutes licking the ice cream out. Then there was the kid who had brought a rock to lunch and had it sitting on the table. I asked the girl next to him if it was a rock and she replied, "Yeah, he carries it around because it looks like a piece of cheese." Or then there was the argument between two boys who are roommates which ended with, "well, you're a failed science experiment." These sound pretty stupid writing them down now but in the moment I couldn't stop laughing.

There are a lot of other reasons that I love working at EFY but these are the main ones that come to mind.
I have a long summer ahead of me but I'm super psyched for all the adventures ahead.

Defending a Shallow Perspective

I'm entirely guilty of making flimsy excuses to not date guys.

My most well known excuse is that he didn't wear flip-flops. Ever. 

I hit another major excuse this week.... 

It kills me inside when guys I'm attracted to haven't read Harry Potter.

I'm not saying they have to be as obsessed with Harry Potter as I am.. I just want them to know what I'm talking about when I go on random spiels about Harry Potter's religious symbolism. 

"I won't date you because you don't wear flip-flops and haven't read Harry Potter." 

How stupid does that sound?

How immature..

How shallow.

BUT!!!!!!

I am here to defend my shallow perspective.

It is not about Harry Potter. It is not about shoes. It is about the person you are because of those things. Your habits.. your interests... your history.... tells a story about who you are and who you are likely to become. It is not that if you can't check off my list of things I'm looking for in a guy that you're not an amazing person.. it just means that you live a life very different than the one I do and am familiar with. The list I have created below is not something my mind has set in stone.. its just a few things that I've come to discover are important to me the more guys I meet and get to know. These are 10 things that I'm attracted to and want to have in my life.

Are they a little bit ridiculous? Yes. Will I come off as kind of shallow? Absolutely. But do they matter to me? Most definitely.

1. He has to have read Harry Potter.

This one isn't even negotiable. The man I marry will have read the books before I seal the deal. The Harry Potter series is something that has made a major impact on my life and if the guy I'm in love with has never read the books I feel like there would be a huge gap in communication and understanding. I'm not saying he has to love the books-- I don't want to marry my twin-- but I do want to be able to relate with him via Harry Potter.

2. He wears flip-flops and what Payless calls "fashion sneakers".

To me, shoes are a huge indicator of personality. I look at each of these pairs of shoes and can tell you what kind of person would wear them. I've come to realize that I don't relate as well to guys who wear tennis shoes on a daily basis as I would like to. Yes, I'm stereotyping but let's be honest.. there is a reason stereotypes are formed because they're often accurate. 

3. He has to be a nerd. 

Oh my heavens I have a huge thing for nerds. It is so attractive when people are passionate about knowledge. I don't even really care what it is.. science, art, ninja turtles... I love when a guy's mind is filled with random facts and will have nerdy moments with me. I want to be able to have insanely random conversations with my husband without him staring at me like I've said something foreign.

4. He has to be photogenic/like taking pictures.

I love taking pictures. I'm not nearly as into pictures as I used to be but anyone can tell you about the thousands of pictures I have taken in the past few years. I want a guy who will take pictures with me. Its no fun when someone hates being in pictures when its something you love so much. 

5. He has to like the outdoors.

I am an outdoor girl through and through. I was raised camping every summer, making plant potions outside after school every day, working for BSA, hiking through painful brush while mapping geology... I belong in the outdoors and want to spend a large portion of my life experiencing the beauty found there. I don't mind spending a vacation or two in the city or on a cruise ship but a life without a heavy dose of outdoor fun is a depressing thought.

6. It doesn't hurt for him to have touchable hair.

I love playing with guys' hair.. especially thick, wavy, wonderful hair. This number on the list is much more of an added bonus than a requirement. There are few things I enjoy more and find more relaxing than to spend a night at home with a guy who has touchable hair.

7. Oh please let him be musical!

I don't care whether you have played the piano your entire life or sing for fun in the shower. I just want someone who appreciates music and makes it part of their life. One of my biggest pet peeves is when people don't sing at church. I want someone who will always be sitting next to me singing-- no matter if they sound amazing or not.

8. I hope he looks sexy in a white shirt and tie

Men, especially in the Mormon world, tend to wear white shirts and ties fairly often. It would be nice to marry a Ryan Gosling rather than a Steve Carell from Crazy Stupid Love if ya know what I mean.

9. He has to have some dancin' skills

I love dancing. It's one of those things I picked up during my college career along with sign language. I want someone I can spend a Friday night dancing with. Nothing crazy.. just some good fun.

Seeing and experiencing the world is a huge part of who I am. Marrying a homebody would cripple my dreams. 

Am I somewhat justified in being picky for what may seem like an entirely unimportant matter?

Logically I think-- Amanda.. you're ridiculous.

However, I can't shake how much I care.

I know that when I meet the right guy it won't matter if he doesn't match up with all of these things. It will be something I'll have to get used to but for now, I know what I want and this is it.