Rebuttal to a Wrong Doing

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First off, I’ve got to admit that I’m not completely blameless here—there's always something someone could have done differently. But what really gets to me about the whole situation is how heartless it felt. After everything I put into volunteering, being brushed off like that really stings. I never got paid for my work; I did it out of passion and a strong commitment to the cause. I even took unpaid leave from my job, sacrificing both time and money because I truly believed in what we were doing for the kids.

Over the years, I invested not just my resources but also a lot of emotional energy into this project. This place means a lot to me, especially since I was a camper there when it first opened, and I wanted my kids to have that same experience. The memories I made at camp as a kid are unforgettable—full of laughter, friendship, and new adventures. So, getting the chance to volunteer there felt like coming full circle, a way to give back to a place that brought me so much happiness and a sense of belonging.

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BSN Volunteer Assignment

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Four years ago, while I was working on my bachelor's in nursing, I had to do a volunteer project for school. It was a bit tricky to find the right spot because a lot of places had strict rules or were fully booked. Then someone told me about this place, and I was blown away—it was the same one I went to as a kid. The nostalgia was real, and I just had to get involved. I reached out immediately and snagged a spot for the third week of summer, feeling super excited and ready to go.

I absolutely loved it. The experience was life-changing, and even though it wasn't always easy or straightforward, it filled my heart with more joy than anything else during my time there. The challenges, like handling a bunch of energetic kids or dealing with unexpected situations, only made the whole thing more rewarding. Watching the kids light up, try new things, and just be themselves was incredibly fulfilling. Every moment with them was a gem, and their smiles made every bit of effort worth it.

Connecting with everyone was a huge part of my time there—not just with my group but with all the kids at the camp. Over the years, the same kids would come back, and I got to know them, hear their stories, and watch them grow. Naturally, I also formed strong bonds with the other counselors, campers, and staff. These weren't just surface-level friendships; they were built on trust, shared adventures, and a common love for the camp's mission. The laughs we had, the hurdles we jumped over, and the victories we celebrated together created a tapestry of memories I cherish.

Looking back, volunteering wasn't just about giving back; it was about being part of a community that encouraged growth, creativity, and resilience. The cold way I was let go after everything I contributed felt like a betrayal of that community spirit. It's tough to realize that all the emotional investment, countless hours of nurturing young minds, and sacrifices I made seemed to go unnoticed. This whole experience has made me think about what volunteerism really means and how important it is to appreciate those who dedicate their time and energy to help others.

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I Spent Five Total Summers There

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I spent five summers there, adding up to eight weeks, with one week as a camper. But the experience is more than just those weeks. Those were the times I was all in with the activities, friendships, and challenges of camp life, but there's also the build-up beforehand as I excitedly counted down the days. Getting ready for the trip, packing my stuff, and thinking about the friends I'd see again is a big part of it all. Plus, coming back home after a week or more starts a new chapter, as the memories and friendships have already taken root and stick with me, popping up in my mind long after I've left the camp.

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Change of Plans

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Looking back on my first summer, I initially thought I'd only stay for a week, but it was so amazing that I ended up sticking around for two. This special place had an awesome team of one volunteer doctor and three volunteer nurses who made sure all the campers were healthy and safe. One Saturday really sticks out in my mind; it was when the third week's group of kids had just left, and we were getting ready for the next bunch to arrive. That day, we hit a snag: our doctor tested positive for COVID. Of course, he had to leave, which put us in a bit of a tough spot. Luckily, I was ready to step up and keep things running without a doctor on-site. We were super fortunate that the doctor lined up for week three trusted us and said we could call her if we needed any prescriptions for the kids. Even though it was a bit of a challenge, the three nurses and I handled it really well without a doctor right there, using our skills, teamwork, and creativity to take care of everyone.

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Sign Me Up

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I had such a blast there that I couldn’t wait to sign up for another two weeks the next year! I was super excited to jump back into the lively camp vibe. Honestly, I didn’t even stress about my job, which says a lot about how much the experience meant to me. I was working in the ER, fresh out of nursing school, and all the skills I’d picked up were super handy. Switching from a clinical nurse to a camp nurse was a breeze since both jobs needed quick thinking, adaptability, and a real passion for helping others.

In my second year, I got even more into it, staying for two full weeks. It was so amazing that we couldn’t resist signing up for another two weeks the next year. We built stronger connections with the campers and each other, creating a place full of laughs, learning, and unforgettable memories. But by my third year, I noticed things started to change for the worse. The camp dynamics shifted in unexpected ways, and we faced challenges that really tested our resilience and commitment to the mission we all loved.

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Here's some context to help explain the situation...

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I have four kids, and each one brings their own set of challenges and joys into my life. My oldest son really stands out right now because he just turned 16. For about the last ten years, he's been dealing with some pretty serious behavioral issues that started showing up when he was around 5 or 6. It hasn't been an easy road for him or our family. Over the years, he's been to all sorts of places that help kids like him, from long-term treatment centers to short-term programs. He's also been in therapy consistently, trying to work through his emotions and behaviors. Despite all his efforts, he's had a tough time with anger management, and he's been through two different programs without much success. It's clear he's had a rough past that's shaped him in ways people can and can't see.

As a family, we've always done everything we can to support him and help improve his behavior. Lately, we've started to see some positive changes, which has been a real source of hope for us. I wanted my son to experience the simple joys of childhood, like going to summer camp, just like other kids. I wanted him to make his own memories instead of just hearing about his siblings' adventures. Sending him to camp was a big decision, and naturally, we were all pretty anxious about how he'd fit into this new environment. The uncertainty was huge, and we didn't know what to expect for him or us as parents. But we realized that if we didn't take this leap of faith, we'd never really know what he could achieve in a more typical setting.

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Week One, Year “Four”

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In the first week at camp, my son had a bunch of incidents that really tested my patience and emotional stability. I was constantly worried, feeling like a mess, hoping his behavior wouldn’t make us look bad. Even though he's my son, I've realized I can't control everything he does. Whenever something happened, the camp staff would come straight to me for advice, skipping his dad, which just added to my stress. I had to lean on my fellow medical staff, who were better at handling things with my son, especially when he came to me with his usual issues. He was supposed to stay for two weeks, but because he struggled to adjust, he only finished one week. During that time, I know I didn’t always react perfectly, but I tried my best to support him and deal with his behavior. It's tough to keep calm and in control when reality keeps chipping away at that calm.

Do I remember every detail of that week? No, but the key moments are still clear. I remember feeling hopeful and then frustrated, the happiness when things went right, and the anxiety when they didn’t. They didn’t let him stay the second week, so my husband came to pick him up.

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Only One Week Now

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After those two weeks, I got a notification saying the program wouldn't be taking in new participants for another two weeks. The organizers decided to pause for two weeks to give those on the waitlist a chance to join in. This meant I had to pick which week I'd return, and after thinking it over, I chose week 3. Both weeks had their own challenges, but week 3 just felt right to me, and I connected with it more.

Meanwhile, two of my kids were signed up for a three-week teen camp, and my oldest and youngest were joining in for just one week with me. Our family's schedule was pretty hectic, but I thought this setup would be a great way for us to bond. However, the events that followed would really put our family's resilience to the test.

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Day TWO

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On Tuesday of the first week, while I was busy at the clinic, there was an unexpected knock on the door. To my surprise, two staff members walked in with my boys. It turned out they had gotten into a fight. The staff said since they were brothers and I was there, they'd just give a warning instead of a harsher punishment, so we could move on. Naturally, I was worried and stressed. Who wouldn't be in that situation? My kids' actions felt like a reflection on me as a parent, and I really felt the weight of that responsibility.

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Day THREE

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The next day, I got another worrying call. My youngest son was brought to me, and it felt like I was being called to the “assistant principal's office.” The news was shocking: he was in trouble again and needed to be sent home. I couldn't believe it. What? It was only the third day of a three-week camp! How could this be happening? I couldn't wrap my head around the fact that my usually well-behaved son was about to be kicked out of camp. Sure, he got into trouble sometimes, like most kids, but this was so unlike him. Something just felt really off about the whole thing.

Amidst all this chaos, I was lucky to have some free time. I ended up in bed, letting the tears flow for a good three hours. The situation was just too much to handle. I was told to pick him up from his cabin, where he was waiting with all his stuff. A coworker kindly offered to help, but I was already feeling so anxious. When I heard my son come into the cabin and start crying in the other room, it broke my heart. His distress hit me hard, and we both ended up crying separately for another half hour or so. I knew I needed to pull myself together before talking to him, but the emotional toll was heavy.

By then, his dad was on the way, making the long hour and forty-five-minute drive to get him, including a $22 toll at the bridge. I took the chance to talk to my son, trying to understand his side of the story. But as he explained, something just didn’t add up. In any conflict, there are always different sides, and I was determined to get to the bottom of it.

On my way to the office, I ran into his counselor, who shared what little info he had. While it was somewhat helpful, it didn’t clear things up. As I kept searching for someone to talk to, I met the two people running the teen program. I hoped they could shed some light on the situation. During our chat, one of the staff suddenly called us into her office. Walking in, I felt a wave of intimidation. Her attitude was harsh, and it felt like I was being blamed for something beyond my control. My whole body was shaking, and I could feel my nails digging into my arms as I tried to keep my protective instincts in check.

As the story unfolded, it became clear that while my son wasn’t entirely innocent, he also didn’t deserve to be sent home after just three days. My heart hurt not only for him but also for the money I had spent for him to be at this camp. With all this on my mind, I felt a strong need to stand up for him, to fight for his chance to stay and continue his experience. I was determined to make sure he got a fair shot to learn and grow from this, just as I hoped he would.

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Termination Email

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Let's go over this again: in my termination email, they said I was always bringing my personal issues to work. Honestly, I didn't think I was. I really tried to keep that from happening, but it didn't work out. It was a tough time for me, dealing with a bunch of personal stuff that I thought I had under control. But apparently, my bosses didn't see it that way. I always took pride in keeping my work separate from my personal life, but it seems the stress I was under might have accidentally affected how I interacted with everyone at work. This misunderstanding led to me getting fired, which I think is pretty unfair, given how much effort I put into making sure my personal life didn’t mess with my job.

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Second Chance

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Luckily for my son, they realized their mistakes and gave him another shot, which I was all for. I knew it was the only break he needed to make it, and he totally did. Everyone deserves a second chance to show what they can do, especially when they're ready to learn from past slip-ups. I stayed positive and urged him to grab this chance with an open heart and a determined spirit. Later, one of the camp leaders came up to me and said how glad they were my son stayed on. He was awesome for the rest of the time and a joy to be around. Hearing that made me super proud and relieved. It felt so good to know my son had turned things around and became a valued part of the camp community. Seeing the photos from their time there really warmed my heart as a mom. Each picture was full of joy, laughter, and friendship, reminding me of his resilience and strength. I know I made the right call by backing him up. There were definitely moments when I could have reacted differently, but hey, emotions can get the best of us. They can cloud our judgment and make us react in ways we might regret later. What really matters is how we bounce back, learning and growing from those challenging experiences.

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Notes

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I took a moment to jot down a note to say sorry and thank you to the two people who let him stay. It was really important for me to show how much I appreciated their understanding and willingness to give my son another shot. I apologized for both his behavior and my own actions during the whole ordeal. Owning up to my part in what happened was a big step in moving on. I truly thanked them for giving him another chance, feeling confident he wouldn’t mess up like that again. This whole experience reminded me how crucial forgiveness and understanding are, and how important second chances can be for personal growth. I believe that by being kind and compassionate, we can create a space where people can learn from their mistakes and really grow.

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Drained

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The day was so emotionally intense that by the end of it, I felt totally wiped out, both mentally and physically. The weight of everything that happened stuck with me like an unwanted shadow, making it hard to shake off the anxiety and exhaustion. It takes a bit to bounce back from something like that, and I found myself dealing with the emotional fallout. The next day, I was pretty quiet, my mind buzzing with thoughts and worries that another coworker might hit me with more bad news, adding to the load I was already carrying. I didn't realize how I seemed to my coworkers until they all pointed it out, with their concerned looks and quiet chats showing that my mood was more obvious than I thought. This shared awareness led to a deep and intense conversation where we all opened up about our feelings and thoughts on what had happened. By my last day there, I was back to my usual cheerful self, lifted by the support of my colleagues and the realization that we could get through even the toughest times together.

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Known Horrible System

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Another reason I got let go is that I messed up on the MARs, or Medication Administration Records. Honestly, we all did. The system wasn’t great, but it was all we had to work with in our tough environment. With all the pressure we were under, even the best systems could lead to mistakes, and it happened a lot. In the 4th week of year 3, our doctor messed up a quarter of the MARs, which threw everything into chaos, and we had to redo them all. We stayed late that first night, going through records and double-checking everything, but we didn’t complain because we knew anyone could make mistakes in such situations. We often got together in small groups to talk about how bad the whole medication system was at camp, pointing out the flaws and limits, but all we could do was try our best to keep the kids safe and healthy. I always did that, putting in my best effort and dedication to my role, believing that every little thing mattered in the bigger picture.

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Treated Like a Child

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Last year, the director didn't treat me well, especially after his team kept coming to me with complaints about my son. I got called into his office, and it was a bit intimidating with the lady running the medical program and the assistant director there too. He sat me down and said he'd gotten complaints about how I was acting. I can't remember everything, but I do recall him saying a kid thought I was being mean because I told him to wear sunblock. This kid had red hair and probably hadn't used any sunblock, so I was genuinely concerned about his health. I didn't want him to get sunburned, but he took it as me scolding him instead of just caring. The director said it wasn't my job as a nurse to tell kids to use sunblock, which seemed weird since I'm supposed to look out for their health. That same kid was supposed to stay for two weeks last summer but got into so much trouble he didn't stay the second week, which made me question how well we're communicating and supporting both kids and staff.

I also got in trouble for not paying enough attention during an incident where a kid got hurt, which left me feeling confused and frustrated. Throughout all this criticism, the director never asked for my side of the story. He just went off what he'd heard from others, who were all kids. It was really disheartening that he didn't bother to hear my perspective at all.

So, the situation he was talking about wasn’t just any regular event; it was a special and unforgettable moment for both the kids and the staff. My fellow medical team and I loved buying ice pops for everyone at camp—a simple treat that brought smiles all around. Over the year, I spent hundreds of dollars on these icy goodies to make sure we had them ready for those scorching summer days. Handing out ice pops wasn’t just about the treat; it was about bringing joy and a cool break for the kids, who couldn’t wait for our ice pop handouts. They’d run up with excited eyes, eager to grab their favorite flavors, making it a beloved camp tradition.

On this particular day, I brought a cooler packed with different ice pops to the bay, where the kids were swimming and having a blast. As I was giving them out, a little accident happened: a kid cut his foot while swimming. The lifeguard, trained for these things, quickly helped him to shore, and I could see she was worried as she grabbed her first aid kit to clean the cut. When I offered to help, she asked if I wanted to take over, but I told her she was doing great and didn’t need me to step in. While she took care of the kid’s injury, I cleaned up the blood from the sand because there were kids everywhere, and I wanted to keep the area safe and clean.

After we finished taking care of the kid, we walked him over to my golf cart, where I had my medical bag and more supplies. Once we got there, I cleaned the wound more thoroughly with what I had, making sure it was as clean as possible. I told the kid he needed to visit the clinic for a better cleaning since we had more stuff there. He agreed, and we even had to put him on antibiotics to prevent any infections. Throughout everything, I made sure he was well taken care of, offering reassurance and support. But later, the lifeguard claimed I didn’t seem to care and accused me of shirking my duties, saying I made her do “my job.” It was frustrating to hear that because she had an important role to play too.

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A Vacation?

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While we were chatting, he said that he and some others felt like I was just there "on vacation" and didn't really want to be there. That comment surprised me and confused me the most because it couldn't be further from the truth. I was totally dedicated to my role and duties at the camp, putting in my time and energy to make sure the kids had a safe and fun time. Being seen as checked out or uninterested was not only hurtful but also the complete opposite of what I was actually doing and aiming for.

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Questions?

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Before he let me go, he asked if I had any questions about the feedback he’d given. I was trying hard to keep a straight face, but inside, I was really disappointed and confused. I didn’t know what to say—I was just overwhelmed by everything and all the emotions swirling around. As soon as I left the building, it all hit me, and I started crying. I couldn’t stop the tears, and I ended up crying for hours, unable to hold back the hurt and frustration that had built up. I was so upset that I couldn’t even go to dinner or the evening program because my face was all swollen and red from crying. It was a tough moment that made me question not just what I did, but also my place in the camp community.

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In Conclusion

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So many tears and heartache are tied up with my memories of this place, which has been both a safe haven and a source of pain. I hate that it turned out like this, especially since most of my time there was filled with joy and laughter—moments I truly cherish. But those few tough times have left a lasting mark on me, echoing in my mind long after they've passed. When I was let go, I was hit with a whirlwind of emotions, unsure if it was worth arguing back because of how deeply it affected me. Being dismissed so easily, for what seemed like the silliest reasons, not only hurt but also shook my sense of belonging and contribution.

Still, in the midst of all this, I often think about the amazing memories and wonderful people I’ve met at the camp. These memories remind me that this is my place too—a YMCA camp meant to be a haven of love, acceptance, and community. It's tough to accept how easily they let me go after everything I’ve contributed over the years. The memories I’ve made with my kids here aren’t just fleeting moments; they’re treasures I hold dear. This year, the camp has been key in bringing my oldest son and me closer, forging a bond we hadn’t experienced before. After an initial conflict with his brother, he managed to stay out of trouble, showing a maturity that surprised us all. Many people noticed how much he’s changed for the better, which speaks volumes about his growth after all the challenges he’s put us through.

This place has not only transformed my son but has also deeply impacted my whole family, bringing us closer in ways I never expected. It’s brought joy and happiness to all my kids, enriching our lives with experiences that will last a lifetime. The bond we’ve built through this experience embodies everything the YMCA stands for: family, love, connection, and bonding. So yes, I’ll fight for this experience to continue until my kids age out of it. I believe in the camp’s mission and the positive impact it’s had on our lives. I want future generations to enjoy the magic and growth we’ve experienced.

Thanks for taking the time to read my response. I know it was long, but there’s so much involved with this camp, and I wanted to cover everything to convey my heartfelt feelings. I hope you’ll let me keep volunteering as a nurse there, as it means a lot to me and my family. Being part of this community isn’t just a role for me; it’s a vital part of who I am and who I want to be. Your consideration in allowing me to stay part of this incredible family would be greatly appreciated, not just by me, but by everyone who’s benefited from the love and support this camp provides.