Essay 11

Essay
Leaving the comfort of this city where everything is tangible will be a refreshing experience for me. I climb aboard and find a seat. The busload of smiling, ecstatic high school students sings silly songs in unison as we do every year, for this carefree spirit swept over us the moment we arrived at the church. I look over at some of the greatest friends I could ever have; we have been coming to this place since we were naïve, prideful, selfish. We have grown, though, to expect a week void of society’s superficial pressures. We expect real, raw, and genuine emotion to expose itself amidst these hundreds of acres of nature, amidst this blank canvas of a campground.

We exit I-20. It’s such an overwhelming thought, to have just exited; reality and anxiety set in upon us as we realize just how close we are. Fields of tall grasses encompass our views from the windows of this bus. Horses gallop through these fields as though life is easy, beautiful, painless. We watch these horses and envy their lives; if only we could experience such freedom. Onward we travel: over the train tracks, through downtown, and finally, into the state park. The road turns to gravel and we know we are so close.

The bus weaves through the dirt roads, and clouds of dust consume the air. The campsite is now within view. Anxious thoughts jade my excitement as we approach the waiting counselors. I wonder, how can such an obscure, simplistic setting overwhelm my heart with such emotional intensity? I look around at the group of young people in this bus – people who are broken, hurting, seeking a purpose in life, wishing God would grant them the serenity and strength they need to persevere – and I know why.

We are here. I muster the strength to stand up. My heart beats rapidly; it’s my nerves, of course. A rush of adrenaline absorbs my anxiety and pride as I enter this familiar place, seeking out the faces of those whom I had built relationships with years before. And I think, the incredible feeling of God’s love is what transforms this mundane campsite into something so beautiful.

Camp Rutledge was transformed into a beautiful, sacred piece of art. Unhindered spirit enlivened the barren softball field, fostering silly cheers, competitive play, and teamwork. We molded our rustic dining hall into a site for nights of dancing, skits, and games. God unveiled his masterpiece by the end of the week; we, an eclectic group of teenagers, discovered what it truly means to set aside our pressures and pain to relish the simplicity of life. We arrived at this empty, desolate setting only to leave an eternal impression, to make this blank canvas our masterpiece, with God holding the paintbrush and beautifying our memories as we made them.

Colleges Sent To
Furman: accepted

GCSU: accepted

Samford: accepted

Wofford: accepted

College of Charleston: accepted

Credentials
GPA: 94.3/100 and 3.86/4

SAT: 1880 560 Reading/ 650 Math/ 670 Writing

ACT: 26