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Chronicles of Working Imagine! Summer Camp
Mar-08-2021
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Several summers ago, CU Boulder alum Kelsey Fisher was preparing for her last summer break as a college student and contemplating what to do for work. Despite having her regular food service job in her back pocket, she decided to try something new and apply to Imagine! as a temporary Summer Counselor. Little did she know that this decision would be a life-changer. We sat down with Kelsey and she shared what working for Imagine! meant to her and her future:
What did you study at CU Boulder?
I majored in Humanities with emphases in Literature and Psychology.
Looking back at the summer you got hired at Imagine!, what other jobs were you looking at?
I already had a job lined up at a restaurant I had worked at before, but I remember feeling that I wanted something more, something different and more challenging. I wanted to explore other options and build my resume. When I found Imagine!, I applied because I liked working with and helping people, and this seemed like a good opportunity to explore that interest.
What was your job at Imagine!?
I was a Therapeutic Instructor for kids and adults with developmental disabilities in the program. The activities were community-based and used a Therapeutic Recreation model. I worked with 1-3 participants per shift and assisted them with accessing the community through whatever the activity was: independence, social skills, motor skills, critical thinking, safety skills, etc. So if we were bowling, the participant could be working on tying their bowling shoes and taking turns with their peers.
What did you learn on the job that you didn’t learn in school?
SO MUCH hands-on life experience that can’t be taught in class or read in a book. With this job, no two days are the same. Things will come up and we had to problem solve on the spot, all while keeping our participant’s safety and engagement in mind. This helped me as an instructor to tap into my confidence and resilience to help people get through a difficult time.
Also, the connections you make are unreal. I made lifelong friends from the people I worked alongside, and when you are helping people alongside people you trust and care about, it’s a really special thing. You go through hard times and amazing times together. And making connections with the participants was so sweet and special to me. I learned how to connect with people in new ways, relating to people on profound levels.
What did you learn in school that you were able to apply directly to the job?
I remember one time we had a class discussion about empathy. We talked about marginalized populations and people who do not have as much access to resources or as much privilege as I do. People with intellectual and developmental disabilities fall into that category. We talked about what it’s like to have empathy for all types of people and still connect with people who don’t have the same experiences. I remember referring back to that class discussion one day while I was on the job and it was affirming to think about seeing one another through our common humanity, not through our differences.
What does this job teach a young person who is pursuing social work or some sort of therapeutic profession?
It taught me to have compassion and love for people other than myself. At that age when we tend to be self-involved, planning for the future, it’s exciting and humbling to do something outside of your everyday experiences of going to college, hanging with friends, partying, etc. It really opened my eyes and perspective to other people’s experiences in the world. I think I had a narrow lens before that, and Imagine! was one of the ways my lens broadened.
Any personal traits or job skills you gained or improved with this job?
So many! For starters, patience and flexibility. The ability to roll with the punches, just take a deep breath and be flexible with whatever comes up. Life is never as we expect it, both personally and professionally. I show up and realize “oh, this day is not going how I planned,” so I learned how to adapt in the moment all while being a caregiver to my participants in the community.
Communication – some days can get busy, and so it was imperative to make sure my communication was effective and clear. Sure, misunderstandings among coworkers and my participants will happen, but I learned to be the best communicator possible for the sake of efficiency. And I learned how to navigate tough communication. At the end of the day, I sometimes had to tell a parent that their loved one had a rough day and explain what happened. That wasn’t easy, but I learned how to have tough conversations in a professional manner.
Advocacy – Speaking up and advocating on behalf of the individuals who do not have as strong of a voice. This is crucial. I remember one day we went to a bowling alley for our afternoon activity. An employee who worked at the alley was giving my participant his shoes and I noticed that the employee would look and talk to me, but not the participant. I kindly offered to the employee that the interaction is between them and my friend who will be bowling, and that it would be best to speak to him directly. This awareness of advocating for others is what carried me on into getting my Master's in Social Work.
What impact did this job at Imagine! have on your future?
So much! I continued to work at Imagine! for another couple of years and it helped me find my passion for working with people. I ended up looking into how I could do this at a higher level and pursued a Master’s degree in Social Work at Denver University (DU). A coworker at Imagine! actually referred me to Social Work graduate studies, and in my application to the program, I referred to so much that I learned and did at Imagine!, which in the end helped me get accepted. Since then, I worked in hospice care on the Mental Health side of things, worked for the Colorado Crisis Hotline, traveled with my husband, and am close to completing a yearlong yoga leadership training program.
Anything else to add?
One thing to add is the amazing friends you’ll make at this job. This job attracts like-minded people, people who are open-minded and want to help others. Everyone wants to push themselves professionally and make meaningful connections. The lifelong benefits to working at Imagine! are endless!
