I learned one of my favorite camp songs, The Circle Game, one fateful summer when I was about eight years old. I was at a day camp because I couldn’t leave my own house for even a night without missing home. When I first heard that song, a lyric stood out which goes, “So the years spin by and now the boy is 20.” My eight year old self couldn’t fathom being as old as the boy in the song. But here I am… 20 years old and now a counselor for the first year at Camp Kalsman. Boy, do the years fly by.

Until this summer, I couldn’t remember the last time I heard The Circle Game. Perhaps at my day camp a decade ago. When I heard the song here, the same lyric stood out to me. This time it shocked me that I was as old as the boy. An age I never thought I’d reach.

I started reflecting on how quickly time could pass, so I vowed to live fully in the moment this summer. Often, I will look around camp and just smile because I know this summer will soon be a memory, but right now I am here. I am home at Camp Kalsman, and I will not take the time I have here for granted.

I encourage everyone, whether at camp or at home, to take a few minutes out of the day to step back, take a deep breath and look around at the life we are usually rushing through. Rushing to be older, rushing to go to college, rushing to start a career, and always rushing to be somewhere else. Slow down for a few minutes and be present both physically and mentally.

The Circle Game reminds us, “We can’t return, we can only look behind from where we came.” Time goes by quickly and it is up to us to make the most and live in the moments that will soon be memories.

Terra Zicklin is a first year counselor at Camp Kalsman and will be a senior at The University of Oregon this Fall. Her spirit animal is a kitten.