Maria
Lujan

I come back to Cody everywhere to see all of my friends while having fun and learning new things. In the past 5 summers, Cody has become my home and a place where I can be myself and have a lot of fun. During the year, remembering all the crazy times with my friends and counselors makes me so excited for the next summer. I always have flashbacks to the moment I met my camp friends who are still my best friends today! I’m really happy that Camp Cody is where our friendship started and it’s really special how we can share that special bond.

My first year at camp I was really nervous; I was coming to another country, speaking a different language, and meeting new people. As soon as I got to camp my eyes opened to the world and I was able to meet so many different people from all around the world. I got to know their cultures and their lifestyles and that summer I became really independent and more understand of the people around me. When I left camp, I realized how the experience had changed me and I was not the same girl scared of going to another country, I was ready to take on new challenges and adventures.

This summer really helped me to improve myself and become a leader. As a CIT, I wake up every single day with a new challenge with my job or with something I know I can improve about myself. I love being a CIT here and getting to see the amazing counselors and follow their path while still having a lot of fun with my fellow CIT’s! I love hanging out with all the campers in my sister cabin, I learn so much from them. For me, being a CIT at Cody means commitment and fun because that’s exactly what it is. Being a CIT has helped me so much even to decide what I want my future to look like, where I want to go to college and what I need to do to get there. The CIT leadership program has taught me so much and I can’t wait to come back as a counselor! I’ve learned how to work and do stuff I sometimes don’t enjoy as much with a positive attitude and I’ve learned many little lessons that I’m sure are going to help me for life.

A life lesson I learned at Cody was when I was hanging out with people from different cultures, countries and lifestyles. That has taught me so many things from respecting other people’s lives and cultures to trying new things and learning that we are all different and can still be friends and ultimately come together to unite as a Cody family.