Coming Full Circle

Coming Full Circle

Exactly ten years ago—as a 5th grader—Callie Lucas began her first of five summers of camp at Saint Mary’s College. Now, the Saint Mary’s sophomore is spending the month of July as a Fine Arts Camp counselor for a new generation of ten-year-olds. “I thought it would be fun to come back and do something I had experienced in a different way when I was younger,” says Callie. “It’s been great.”

Callie, who is from Merrillville, Ind., says being a camp counselor is a lot like being a surrogate parent for three weeks, making sure kids’ needs are met and taking on responsibility for their well-being. “I help girls get over homesickness, make sure they’re in bed on time, and enforce rules when necessary,” she explains. “I’m also like a proud mom when the week is over and they hold their performance for family and friends, showcasing what they’ve learned throughout the week. It’s very rewarding to see them be so passionate about the arts.”

Callie says her four years as a Fine Arts camper fostered an appreciation of the arts in her at an early age. “I’m a history major, go figure,” she says with a smile. “But I still love the fine arts. I really wish I could go through it all again and be up on stage singing or acting or dancing with those girls on the last day of camp!”

There are other young women who share her point of view. Last week, two of Callie’s charges were 8th graders who had been coming to Fine Arts Camp for the past four years and felt sad to see it end. “They told me they would come back as counselors someday like I did,” says Callie. “Full circle.”