Through our unique experiential learning model, Camp Rising Sun participants are given considerable independence within the program structure to construct knowledge through meaningful hands-on experiences and develop servant leadership skills. Read the reflections on leadership by Renzo ‘19,

By Renzo Ulloa ‘19

How to be your own leader

“This is a safe place”

Hi! I am Renzo Ulloa, a seventeen-year-old human being currently living in Lima, Peru. I was selected to attend Camp Rising Sun in 2019 and I cannot express how this opportunity is still changing my life. There are too many reasons to say, but this time I will highlight the idea of how you need to be your own leader. I am thrilled to share with all of you part of my story and how the concept of leadership changed for me.

I would love to start by telling you how my life before CRS was. Personally, I considered myself as a proactive person with a bubbly personality, but I did not see myself as a “leader,” or at least what I had been taught was completely different from what I would later discover. So, I found this beautiful opportunity to develop leadership skills in teenagers, and I applied in order to prove to myself that I could fit into the classic idea of leadership I had. That idea of a leader who is always giving incredible speeches to cheer up everyone, that leader who is open and extremely self-confident. I described the few experiences that demonstrated my “leadership potential,” focusing on how I took initiative to develop a positive change in my community and how meaningful cooperation and collaboration were to success in this process. But I did not recognize the activities in which I had a more supportive role as leadership potential.

After submitting my application and having an interview with Daniel, the person in charge of the selection in Peru, I received an acceptance letter from LAJF, my first acceptance letter for an international experience. I was doubtful about it and asking myself too many things at the same time, but I accepted it and suddenly I was preparing myself to go outside my country for the first time. My host family was, and still is, one of the best families I have ever met. They were so kind with me and Rodrigo, the other Peruvian camper. They took us to some places in New York City, and then they took us to the place where we will begin our magical story in Camp. 

On the road to Camp, I was asking myself (and asking Rodrigo as well): Am I dreaming? Is this real? - And then I decided to just be focused on one thing: to discover the reason why I had been chosen and discover if I am a “real” leader. The excitement of sharing special moments with people from all over the world was enormous, and it reminds me of something that I read in one of the instruments in the lounge: “Everyone has an implicit mission in Camp.” It was not until the third week when I realized it. There was not a more perfect day than when I was the “Leader of the Day,” with my Italian friend Vittorio.

It was easier on the grounds that we were two, one supporting each other, and we had our counselors helping us in every moment we needed. That was a busy day since half of the campers were going on the hiking trip, and we were receiving three new campers. I remember that I was helping in the teamwork groups to make sure everything was as in the schedule. I was a bit nervous in the beginning, but finally, I got enough confidence to believe in what I can do, to get out of my comfort zone, and to prove that I had developed leadership skills. When we received feedback at the end of the day, I could not believe that I did great work being a leader. The best part was when I realized that I loved it! I love to serve my community.

I realized that leadership is inherent in every human being, and that everyone seeks and builds their own leadership style based on their personality and abilities. Personally, I was trying to fit into the pre-established leadership style, but my thing was to have more direct and personalized contact with each person in the community so that they would have the confidence to talk to me to solve problems together. As a leader, I was trying to figure out how to make it easier for the whole community to create a sense of belonging to Camp. I think many people still think that we should be an ideal leader, ignoring that they can be their own ideal leader and that they can take advantage of their own abilities to serve their community. 

After that day, when other campers became leaders, I wanted to keep helping, but I was not sure about how to do it. Until someone said to me: “Just be your own leader.” I still bear that in mind in every action, every thought that I have. I learned from that experience that I can be a leader, whether I have an “official role” or my inner supportive role. CRS developed my critical and divergent thinking to find out ways to help others even if I don’t have a leadership role. Being your own leader even if you do not have the title is a priceless lesson. The place is the same, but what makes the Camp special are the people and the experiences that can arise from the international community that is there. I completely recommend Camp Rising Sun: I made a family there, and I still think it is the best safe place you would ever find. CRS is an incredible opportunity to change your life.