Summer Job or Summer Crew Development?

Ceetie_Bee
Thu, 18 Dec 2008 14:10:35 +0000

I’m at a bit of a sticky situation right now. I’ve been accepted to a school – I’ve also been recruited as a coxswain for their crew team. My parents think it’s a good idea for me to go to the Junior National Team development camp this summer in order to further hone my skills.

However, there’s somewhere I want to work. I want to be a counselor at the Japanese immersion camp I attended the summers after freshman and sophomore years of high school. I plan to major in Japanese and I feel that working at the camp would be a great way to hone my skills before having to take a placement test for my classes in the fall.

The job doesn’t pay much, but I feel like I’ve been forced to choose between summer crew and summer Japanese activities for the last three years. I feel that by going to the development camp I run the risk of burning out on crew during my freshman year of college. On the other hand, I would potentially be setting myself up for the top boats once crew season begins.

Also, if I want to become a full counselor at this camp in the future, I need this entry-level position now in order to have a better chance of being accepted to the post of full counselor.

I’m wondering if I’m making the right choice.

What do you think, CC-ers?

*I’m putting this under summer programs because the position I’m applying for is basically a camper who’s paid. I’d assist with some tasks and counselor duties, but I’m ultimately applying to expand my language abilities – not get paid.

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