Second Chances

Many thanks for the support from so many Olympians, like Kris Potter, who have shared their heroic journeys at Olympia for a chapter in "A Hero's Journey: from Little Norway to Olympia Sports Camp" called the Soul of Olympia....Oh the people you get to meet at Olympia! Thanks for this Kris. Your honesty gives us memories... and lessons...

 

 

My Olympia story began when I was 16 years old and had been hired to work in the Tuck & Pro Shop.  To say that I was a model employee that summer would be a significant stretch.  The truth of the matter is I was homesick and didn’t want to be there.  I remember calling my mother on a consistent basis pleading with her to let me come home. I was insecure, didn't know anyone and didn't want to risk looking silly doing among other things, all those dances - I felt uncomfortable and like an outsider. I was being forced to step out of my comfort zone on a daily basis - it was very tough for me. Fortunately, my mother remained steadfast that I needed to earn some money and that no son of hers would be sitting at home doing nothing in the summer.  Eventually, about 7 or 8 weeks into the summer, something started to feel 'right'.  Slowly but surely, I began to feel at home at Olympia.  I didn't feel like I was an outsider any longer.  I felt welcome and I loved it.  

Unfortunately, 8 weeks of less than satisfactory work didn’t bode well for my chances of employment the following summer.  I started to panic; I couldn’t imagine not being asked back for the next summer but that is exactly what happened.  Many of my fellow counsellors were all invited back to work the following year, but I wasn’t.  Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t deserve to be hired back.  I was lazy, immature, cocky and really didn’t bring anything to the camp.  However, after the summer back at home in Sarnia and faced with the distinct possibility of not going back to camp, I decided I would write Dave Grace a letter telling him just how much Olympia had meant to me and what it had done for me in terms of my confidence and self-esteem.  I began to discover who I was underneath the insecurity - being at Olympia helped me peel it away.  I was comfortable outside of my comfort zone.  I mailed the letter in hopes that Dave would give me a second chance.

After a couple of weeks, I called Dave and asked him if he had in fact received my letter, he said he had.  I asked if I could work there the following summer and he said he would have to think about it.  A few months passed but eventually I was informed by way of contract, that I was in fact, invited back to work at Olympia as a cabin counsellor.  I was elated!  I went on to work a total of 5 summers at Olympia and met some of my best friends in life there, including my wife, Leslie. Despite my lackluster beginnings at camp, I eventually became a unit leader my last summer at Olympia.

 

 

Dave Grace’s kindness in allowing me a second chance has no doubt helped give me the life that I have today.  My family and I go to Olympia week #5 every summer and my children consider Olympia one of their truly special places.  Dave's lesson also taught me to not give up on someone, especially a young person.  Now, as a high school guidance counsellor, this lesson has served me very well in my career working with teens.  Thank you, Dave.

Kris Potter

                                         Kris and Leslie Potter and their top two campers 

                                              Kalia and Kye.with Jaya watching out

The link to the blog is TuesdayswithDave.blogspot.com

This blog is about the journey of the writing of the book A Hero's Journey: From Little Norway to Olympia Sports Camp. The blog will contain excerpts from the book and my personal thoughts on what the place and the people that make up Olympia's journey is all about. The title comes from the great book Tuesdays With Morrie, by Mitch Albom. The blog's title is recognizing Dave Grace as Camp Director, but all content is my own.