A Summer to Remember

            Summer is a time to have fun with friends and family. Camp has an environment in which every individual can be whoever they want to be for those two months. I choose to be myself, to let everyone know who I am and so did my friend, Dana. The summer before eighth grade, changed me and opened my eyes to see what kind of world is out there. Unfortunately, I saw a world with discrimination and cruelness. My friend Stephanie was bisexual lied about it to everyone at her hometown by dating guys just so no one would treat her the way the kids in my camp treated her.

Stephanie was new to my camp and I welcomed her into it by helping her unpack her bags and make her bed. We sat together at meals and played tennis together.  She quickly became one of my best friends. One evening when we were outside hanging out, she told me her deepest, darkest secret. Stephanie explained to me how she was interested in women verse men. I was a little shocked at first, but it didn’t change anything.  Just because she liked girls does not mean she is a different person. I was curious on why she revealed this secret and she responded on saying how camp is the one place she hoped to test out what people’s reaction would be before she tells everyone at her hometown.  I said how she was my best friend before I knew and will continue to be after I found out. After a series of hugs and laughs, she was ready to tell our bunk.

Stephanie sat the whole bunk after dinner one day and explained her secret with everyone. She received blank stares.  No one said anything, but me who said how good it must have felt to get it off her shoulders. After the awkward moment was over, my bunkmates left the cabin for our evening activity whispering and staring at Stephanie and me.  I felt extremely uncomfortable and hated the way everyone treated us. One of the kids in my bunk tried to convince me not to talk to her anymore.  I was so shocked that anyone could think of that to say that my mouth dropped open and my brain went blank of all thoughts of what I could say.  The next week, we had another bunk meeting without the counselors saying how it would be a better idea if Stephanie moved out of our bunk. I stood up and said how unfair and mean they are being to her and just because she is bisexual doesn’t mean she doesn’t have feelings. All my former friends explained that they felt uncomfortable changing in the bunk and afraid that she likes one of them. The next day Stephanie left camp.

I haven’t spoken to her much since then because she lives in Florida and it is extremely hard to stay in contact with someone who lives so far away. I will never forget her though and wish I could have stood up for her more. That summer may have discouraged her to ever come out at home which is unfortunate.  Our world needs to be more open and understanding unlike my camp and appreciate everyone for who they are. I wish I could do more for Stephanie, but hopefully when we all grow up; there will be a more caring world out there for her and millions of other to expose themselves.