Preparing for SIT Summer: A Letter from the 18’s

Dear SITs of 2019,

As you embark on the biggest journey of your young life, we would like to pass the torch on with some words of advice from one SIT class to another. SIT Summer was undeniably the greatest eight weeks of our lives, and there is not a doubt in our minds that you’ll feel similarly. SIT Summer is a beautiful blend of happiness and sadness, freedom and difficulty. There will be times when you are forced to tears from your placements; there will be times when you are forced to tears by your love for Camp Chi. Through the challenges and triumphs of your SIT Summer, there are a few things you should always remember.

You only have 54 days of your SIT Summer, and they will never be enough. Right now, you may be confused about what we are saying. Before SIT Summer, we never understood why people said SIT Summer went by so fast. Most of us only went for one session and believed that eight weeks were an eternity. These eight weeks will be a marathon, but also at times a sprint to the finish. The hours will turn into days; the days will turn into weeks; the weeks will turn into sessions. With that being said, make every single moment of your SIT Summer count. While you may feel compelled to rest during your hours off from placements, we urge you to always keep yourself occupied. These are the moments that you will miss the most after your SIT Summer is over. Go to one of your camper’s specialties, go to the courts and practice volleyball, go to the cove and hang out with the specialists, go make camp a better place.

Camp Chi is a place of wonder, mystery, and magic; it is the responsibility of the SITs to help create this for everyone else. Don’t have any regrets over your summer. Sitting on the bus ride to camp this summer, we told each other to not be afraid to try new things. Make new friends, make a change, be different. The last thing that you want to do when reflecting on your SIT Summer is say “I wish.” This is your SIT Summer; you can do whatever you’d like to do. Embrace the new community that you will create with the other SITs and Camp Chi staff. The unification of your SIT class will be one of the most magical changes you will experience. Be open to meeting new people and try to build a connection with everyone in your SIT Class.

Along with your fellow SITs, the you will become incredibly close with the junior staff at camp. Regardless if they are your placement counselor or not, please try to build a connection with the current JCs (SITs of 18). Some of our closest friends from SIT Summer were the SITs of 17. Along with the JCs at camp, you can build incredibly close bonds with specialists; they provide you with a great amount of knowledge, advice, and friendship.

Finally, we would like to tell you to be patient. SIT Summer is 8 weeks long. SIT Summer is only 8 weeks long. But the memories of SIT Summer will last a lifetime. There were times during our summer when we couldn’t comprehend the “magic” that the past SITs had talked about. They would always tell us, “Just wait. You’ll feel it eventually.” Well, they were right. You will. It’s real. There will be times when you question why you even decided to come. There will be times when you question why you even considered not coming. SIT Summer is truly magical, and it is undoubtedly the most incredible experience of our entire lives. Just wait.

Love,

The SITs of 2018