So, you've been away from that wonderful place we like to call camp for a week now. How does it feel? I am sure you are experiencing quite the mix of emotions as we all do after we leave Albion. Laura mentioned getting back to the "real world." It's a hard transition to make, but the easiest way to make it is by taking as much as you can from Level 2 and make it a part of your "real world." Many of us would gladly live in the "camp world" every single day if we could, but that's not completely possible. There is a reason why all of you spent a week with us in Albion, there was a reason you were at camp this year. You did not end up at camp by chance--you possess an ability to lead, to be an example, to make a change in yourself and the world around you. You need to use your ability to help spread it to the people around you--put a little bit of camp in them.

The first place to begin when creating change is looking within ourselves. We spent a lot of time last week on our BE goals and how we can become BETTER EVERYDAY. As leaders, it takes a lot of understanding of ourselves and courage to identify a weakness or issue about ourselves that we want to change. We need to look at the BE goals we created at camp and really examine if after almost two weeks it is still the goal we want to change about ourselves and one we feel comfortable working to better ourselves with EVERYday. The beauty in the BE concept is that we can always change it and amend it to fit ourselves better. We want your BE goal to be something you truly care about and want to change about yourself, and most importantly something that is measureable and attainable. Once we begin to understand and better ourselves, we are able to better our surroundings.

I am now back to our nation's capitol (Washington, DC, if you failed government class), and I am trying to focus on my BE goal of becoming ADAPTIVE. I had lived solely in suburban Michigan for the first 22 years of my life, and coming to a new place, especially such a big city, was quite new to me. I feel like I am adapting in a new way everyday, but what makes it different and relative to my BE goal, is I am embracing this change and adaptation in my life. I am adapting to a new culture, and trying to understand things are much different in DC than they are in the mitten. I definitely have experienced a lot of "culture shock" in my move to DC, but I doing my best to embrace this new culture, and try to adapt and integrate myself into it, while maintaining my beliefs and traditions at the same time. I start teaching at a new school that underwent a complete restructuring this summer in just over one week, and I am sure to have to employ many adapting strategies when that arrives. I will be sure to post on here and possibly seek some advice from the most amazing leaders in all the land. Adapting is not always easy, but I am learning to understand my surroundings and grow from new experiences everyday.

I hope to keep up with this blog as much as I can, and I want your feedback too. How is your BE goal coming? Do you feel strongly and invested with your BE goal? Do you need help creating a new one? LET ME KNOW!

Level 2 campers never cease to amaze, and you truly blew me away this year. You are all capable of doing even more amazing things than you have already done, and I have faith in quite a better future after spending a week with all of you. I expect you all to continue to change the world, but remember the change must always start with YOU!

Much love always,
Jake
Neon Yellow SC
custerja@msu.edu, cuserja@gwu.edu

PS I know some of you have requested the playlist most of you enjoyed during PRT time, so it is posted below. All songs are available on iTunes (with the exception of the last song--a former camper, available if you e-mail me).

I'm Yours Jason Mraz
Better Together Jack Johnson
Waiting on the World to Change John Mayer
Easy Silence Dixie Chicks
You Give Me Something James Morrison
Banana Pancakes Jack Johnson
I'll Stand By You Carrie Underwood
Life Is Wonderful Jason Mraz
Human Jon McLaughlin
Innocence Avril Lavigne
Lost Michael Bublé
You Might Die Trying Dave Matthews Band
Change Kimberley Locke
Undiscovered James Morrison
How To Save A Life The Fray
Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme) Mariah Carey
Car Crash Matt Nathanson
Everything Michael Bublé
Hallelujah Rufus Wainwright
This is Goodbye Jamelynne Cvengros