Nervous...Nope, Optimistic!

Aditi Nair

​Founder & Executive Director

As my fourth blog for ImPossible, I wanted to do this a little differently. My last two posts have mostly been to communicate information while sharing my opinions and asking questions, but for this one I wanted to reflect on a recent opportunity.

Last Summer, I had the opportunity to volunteer for a summer camp specifically for children identified with Autism. Now, I am going to be completely transparent with you all–I was a little nervous. I had mixed feelings: I was excited, hopeful and anxious. I was excited and hopeful for the opportunity and days ahead, but I was nervous because I didn’t know what to expect, and I continued to doubt my abilities. 

I am proud to report that I only have optimistic feelings about the opportunity now, and I find myself laughing at the fact that I was even nervous for a second, and here’s why: all of the children who attended the camp were angels and absolutely amazing in every way!

Over the four days of camp, I was able to meet many children, and each one was different from the other. There were some who loved to play and socialize, some who preferred their own company, and a few that would do anything for attention. At the end of each day, I would cherish some memorable moments–and of course enjoy a good laugh. 

This experience has helped me in so many ways, and it has made me a better person. The children have helped me look at the small nuances in life rather than always trying to analyze the big picture. 

One boy I met was, to be honest, mind-blowingly smart. He was able to process things very quickly, and could speak in complete sentences for hours at hand. I am pleased to say that he taught me a few things as well–mostly about the vast expanse of Space. 

There were also two girls who loved to sing, and they would just hum parts of a song that was in their head. Although they would just murmur the words, I could tell that they were able to process the lyrics and get the tune out without much effort. Also, I noticed that one of the girls enjoyed listening to the noises around her. Similarly, she would also make her own sounds by tapping her hands across the tiled floors. 

In addition, there were children who loved books! There was one child in particular who would always carry a Curious George book with him. Whenever he came across a specific area with a sound, like hmph or sigh, he would want others to make the sounds to interact with the book–I completely related to that. As a little kid, I loved it when my parents would read books to me while adding effects to make it all the more enticing. 

Of course, there were so many children with different personality traits and habits that made camp much more fun, for us counselors and volunteers as well. Now, I will say that I made some conclusions during the first session of camp. Of course, not all of it will be completely relevant, but I decided that I would like to share them with you, whether you are a guardian, sibling, friend, or just someone who would like to learn more!

1. Sound plays a big part for many children
   1. Like I mentioned before, there were many children who liked to listen to their surroundings and had a specific connection with their sense of sound. One of the activities that we conducted during camp was during the movement section of the day. The coordinators would set up some music, like the Cha Cha Slide, for the kids to dance to. I could see that they loved to listen to the music. 
2. Interacting is very important
   1. Whether it is to read books with them, help them with art activities, or simply spend time with them, it is important to be there for them. Since all children are different it is important to take that under consideration. For instance, there was one child who just wanted to do things by himself, and he didn’t want anyone to help him. So, instead of forcing him to hang out with me, I just waited until he was ready to open up. 
3. No Surprises
   1. During camp, the coordinators had set up schedules for each day of camp so that everyone would know what to do at a specific time. In addition to schedules, they also provided timers that would alert the children when it is time for another activity. As explained during my training, sometimes, children with Autism don’t like surprises, as they enjoy knowing what to expect, especially when it comes to a new place, like summer camp. 

These are just a few of the main conclusions I made, but I know that as I get to know more children, I will be able to answer all of the burning questions. 

​Until then, keep reading and exploring the many possibilities in life…..

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