My victorious return to Camp Mo-Val as a middle schooler

 Summer camp at Mo-Val before my freshman year was truly a turning moment in my life.  

Attending with Chris Thiel was a reminder that I was not a popular or special kid during my middle school years.  In fact my self image during that time was pretty poor.  I was a good looking, strong kid.  But I think I was also bound by the sexual images and longings that I had pent up inside me.  And I didn't know how to stand up for myself and was somewhat of a target for other kids' ridicule, like Chris Theil. 

So, there I was on the first day of camp.  Sitting at the side of the swimming pool with Chris right there next to me.  Low and behold Heather Tidwell came over and sat down next to me and showed interest in me, even more than Chris Thele.  

Then there was Brent Price.  The seemingly cool kid at camp.  But I wasn't try to befriend him, he was pursuing me.  And he was actually nice to me and looked at me as though he respected me.  These were things I was not used to... 

Or was that 8th grade year going into 9th.  I can't exactly remember but this is a truly significant detail.  Because I think it had a fairly significant impact on my image of myself for the next school year.  

I'm not sure what it was about that week of camp, but I was somehow noticed.  I was noticed for the first time in quite some time, and that was something I greatly missed during my years at Selvidge Middle School.  

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