Harry Potter Camp or San Francisco?

I keep reminding myself that I’m packing for San Francisco, not Harry Potter camp. For the past seven summers, I’ve used my blue suitcase to pack for camp. Now, after retiring my wizard hat, I’m using the same blue suitcase to pack for San Francisco. I hope my suitcase adjusts well to the change of scenery, because I’m having some trouble with it.

Harry Potter camp was two weeks long, and so is this San Francisco trip. How handy is it that I can use the camp packing list to pack for San Francisco. I have the camp packing list memorized by now. 14 shirts, 6 pairs of shorts, two sets of PJs, one sweatshirt, one pair of sweatpants, etc. However, a few items that I’d usually bring to camp will not be necessary in San Francisco. For example, I won’t need to pack towels. I used to stuff my blue suitcase full of towels for camp, but I won’t need to pack any for San Francisco. Our cohort will be staying at a super nice condo, where towels are provided for us (along with Trader Joe's soap! What a life!). Another item our lovely condo provides for us is sheets! No more trying to stuff my favorite blanket into my suitcase, only to realize it leaves no room for clothes. Without towels and sheets, my suitcase almost feels empty. (Should I pack a squishmallow?) What kind of luxury resort am I headed towards?

From a far, an expensive condo in San Francisco seems like an upgrade from a summer camp cabin. My blue suitcase is certainly happy to carry a lighter load. Expensive condos have air conditioning, clean bathrooms, and HGTV-worthy wall decor. Along with the condo, San Francisco as a city probably seems much more appealing than a summer camp. Just thinking about the coffee shops, bookstores, and films I’ll get to see makes me excited. This opportunity to stay in a fancy condo in a big city almost seems too good to be true. What did I do to deserve this luxury?

The reason I’ve been talking about Harry Potter camp is because, for a good chunk of my life, camp was the only place I could truly be myself. Everyone was so accepting in a way that I didn’t experience back home. There was no judgment for being a “nerd” or “awkward”--phrases that people back home used to call me. As soon as camp started, I could leave any worries about home behind and be truly present with people who accepted me. I had never felt so aligned with my best self until I started going to camp. But when I came to college, I found another place to let my guard down and be myself. The queer community.

Community is important to me. My community at summer camp showed me love, acceptance, and confidence. I am a different person because of the years I spent there. However, as I got older, I realized camp does not need to be the only place I feel accepted, loved, and confident. I can find community with other LGBT+ students and staff at UWEC, and they will love and accept me just the same.

I’m so excited to go to San Francisco, but I am mostly grateful. I’m grateful that I have another place and group of people to be myself around. I’m grateful that I have the opportunity to be myself and not have to hide it. I’m grateful that I have opportunities to learn and challenge my opinions. I have so much growth to do, and I can’t wait to get started.