Yesterday was the last day of math camp. Ironically enough, it ended up being the best day of math camp, and I'm actually sad to see it end. I talked to more kids yesterday than the entire five weeks combined. I was just sitting in bed last night wondering what I did the past five weeks, and why didn't i talk to the kids more. Here is what I concluded:

1. I spent four of the weeks of camp witnessing. I think because of witnessing, a lot of my time was look, witness, repeat. But this was important.

2. I sat on my butt a lot and did nothing in the office. That one really hot week I just sat inside in the cool office so I didn't die out there.

3. My job is a little different now. When you're a teacher, you get to connect with the kids and learn their names. I only taught a class when they needed a teacher, so I never learned names.

4. The kids are too old. When the majority of the camp is 7th-10th grade, the kids tend to keep to themselves, be fobs and do fobbish things, cut class, or leave campus. Many of these kids I either played basketball with or witnessed to. The kids I need to concentrate getting to know next year are the younger ones. However, all the younger boys are always playing their Yugioh cards. So note to self: next year, get to know the 5th and 6th grade girls. These are the ones who seem open to talking to strange guys like me.

So yes, I am sad to see math camp over. There's this one 6th grade girl who I only got to know the past two days, and she's so funny. She's the type of girl who does whatever she wants and doesn't care what other people think because she wants the people around her to laugh. She did ask for my screen name, so maybe I'll talk to her again one day. But she wasn't invited to the picnic. I hope she comes back next year. I hope I come back next year. Some of these students, you wonder what they'll turn out like. Some of them you can already see they're going to be successful. Others, you have to pray they'll turn out decent.

I may have to take summer school at city next year, but hopefully I'll be able to take classes that start before camp or after camp so I can do this again. I know all the guys who finish college and start working miss camp, but every once in a while they get a day off. But that's a part of life, and you can't stay at camp forever. Unless you're Cal and you work with kids. Now there's something to think about.

I do wonder if I came off too harsh on some of the kids. Even on the last day I ended up taking the tennis ball from some kid because he kept bouncing it in the room after I told him not to. I probably did seem mean, or bossy, or rude a lot of the times, but it's hard to get anywhere when the kids are running all over you.

I'll miss the kids, and I hope to be back next year. Good luck kids.