The kids haven’t even arrived yet, and my 19-year-old daughter has come home from camp counselor training the past four nights glowing with excitement.

She told me that working at a camp for kids with cancer means being surrounded by counselors who instantly welcome one another.

“There’s so much empathy in the room,” she said.

Avery learned that siblings can come too — and whether campers stay for one day or many, the goal is simply to give them the best day possible.

She has already made fast friends with another counselor who was once a sibling camper himself. He told her the activities aren’t what make camp unforgettable. It’s the bonds the kids make with the counselors.

Telling me about it last night, Avery became a bit emotional.

“We are people they will remember for the rest of their lives.”

Then she spoke about the weight of that responsibility and wondered aloud whether she was up to the task.

I told her I don’t know much with certainty, but I’m sure of one thing:

Long after the games, costumes, and icy treats fade from memory, these children will remember how she made them feel.

And I know she is exactly where she’s supposed to be.

My hand in yours,

Rachel