University of Memphis students Brett Collins, Sonia Jones and Melinda Laroco all worked for free last summer and most said they plan to do so again this summer.
The students worked as frosh camp counselors at Camp NaCoMe in Pleasantville, Tenn.
“It’s not about the money,” said Collins, a junior who has been a counselor for two summers and has submitted his application for Summer 2003. “Seeing the kids from camp walking around campus is the best fulfillment.”
Senior Sonia Jones said she did not want to come to The U of M in the beginning. After she attended frosh camp as a freshman, however, she decided to become a counselor.
“There were upper classmen who helped me,” Jones said. “I just wanted to help someone else.”
Frosh camp is a three-day program that is organized completely by students. The program is geared toward teaching incoming freshmen about The University and campus life. Freshmen have the opportunity to interact with over 200 of their peers and over 50 current students and counselors.
Students are divided into groups of eight to ten people or “families” with a “mom” counselor and a “dad” counselor.
“Frosh camp is a great way to get involved on campus,” Collins said. “It’s the best student organization to get involved with.”
Melinda Laroco also attended frosh camp as a freshman and decided she wanted to be a counselor.
“When I went as a freshman, I really enjoyed it,” Laroco said. “I wanted to help incoming freshmen, too. It’s rewarding seeing all the freshmen get to campus and take leadership roles.”
Collins added that frosh camp sometimes gets a bad rap for being only for Greeks.
“Anybody can do it,” Collins said. “It’s better to have counselors from different campus organizations.”
The University is now accepting applications for students who want to be counselors in this year’s camp. Applications are due tomorrow.
“Happy, extremely energetic people should apply,” Jones said. “Applicants should also have a lot of school spirit. “If you don’t have (school spirit), you’ll gain it as a counselor.”
Laroco, a junior, agreed that anyone should apply to be counselors.
“They look for diversity when interviewing for counselors,” Laroco said. “They’ll match a veteran counselor with a newer counselor or someone hyper with someone quiet.”
Students who are applying as counselors should be really dedicated, Collins said. Counselors have monthly meetings and are allowed to miss only one.
“About 155 students apply, but only 55 are hired,” Collins said. “It’s the best of the best.”
