So this summer’s BHCSI session started! I was lucky enough to be chosen as an undergraduate TA for the camp that first brought me to UCF as a high schooler, so I’m glad for the opportunity to experience this now on both sides of the line, as camper and counselor (essentially). I’m really excited for what the next three weeks holds!
That said, I’m severely disappointed it’s not a residential program this year. It was for the nine years before last (all of the times it had run), and due to financial constraints they canceled it entirely last year. At least they had enough to bring it back this summer, but they had to cut the residential portion, which majorly saddens me.
See, when I attended as a camper, those three weeks staying here on campus in Flagler were a blast. There’s just so much community building and bonding that goes on late at night, or through playing card games in the pod, watching movies, etc., that you just can’t get from a daytime-only program. I can only imagine how much more fun both I and the campers would have if we were able to have that available to us this year. That whole sense of belonging is why I briefly considered applying to the O-Team this past year–I’m very jealous of them now and how they get to have that entire experience. Sure, every three days a new group of FTIC students come in for orientation and they’re only with each group for two days at a time, but they still get the pod, they still get to build a community, they still get to hang out with each other and develop their own social circle, etc.
So I’m kinda bummed about the whole aspect. Who knows? Maybe I’ll be an RA in grad school or get to do a residential program like this later in life. Or maybe they’ll bring that portion back for BHCSI next summer. I can only hope!
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