Every pioneer has a life story and a life lesson. In 1989, 40 young women, aged 13-16, stepped onto Clinton’s campus and unknowingly forever altered the course of CRS and their own lives.  They were courageous settlers of a new home, a new spirit, and new opportunities that reached hundreds of young women in the years following. Where are they now? Thirty years after CRS first started the girls’ programming, 6 of those pioneers shared a glimpse of their Camp experience, post-Camp life, and of the lessons they carry with them! Each pioneer from 1989 was interviewed by me, Monica Janvier, one of the over 1,600 young women who have followed in their footsteps!    

Meet Trina

Frequent trips to mountains and lakes paints the landscape of Trina’s childhood in Rockland County, NY and Chatham, NJ. Her parents and brothers, one of which is also an alum of CRS, enjoyed outdoor activities such as backpacking, canoeing, and hiking. In the winter, they often visited small ski areas in southern NY where her parents volunteered in Ski Patrol, teaching and providing emergency care. Trina currently resides in Huntington, Vermont and works as an Actuary. Trina speaks about decision-making in alarming situations and when choosing a career.

CRS Memories

Trina reflects on a life-changing event that took place during a canoeing trip at Camp: 

“There was a thunderstorm that came up when we were crossing the lake… Apparently, it was a hurricane- which of course without smartphones none of us knew...The waves were high compared to the freeboard of a canoe. And lightning was everywhere. And [people] were praying really loudly. And I had never really been around someone who was really profoundly believing in their faith like that. And other people were doing it manically to get through it even though they were terrified. And some people were singing at the top of their lungs”

While first canoeing down a river, the group realized that there was an approaching hurricane. Just before leaving this river and entering the large lake with the advancing hurricane, the group began to plot strategies and plans for keeping safe. Due to limited technology for tracking the storm, picking the safest option (waiting for the storm to pass or canoeing back to camp) was especially difficult.

Trina reflected on the takeaway lesson after they made it back to camp safely:

“It really talked about decision making when there isn’t necessarily a right decision at the time”

For Trina, growing up as a “sheltered kid from the suburbs”, she learned that some individuals have different ‘correct’ responses to tense situations, such as profoundly praying.

Canoeing Through Life

Although not as fearful as a hurricane, post-Camp Trina faced another conflicting question- one that may not have a ‘correct’ option: choosing a career. 

“For a really long time, I felt like a failure… [I asked myself] ‘Did I grow up to be a leader? Did I grow up to be involved in Diplomacy? Or changing the world? Working for nonprofits?’...”

Trina believes that teenage alums of CRS are often told that they’re exceptional. However, they often come to learn during their 20s and 30s that they’re not, in fact, “the best or the brightest”. Instead, Trina considered herself “good and bright”. She felt as if she disappointed the world for not fully living up to her potential as the “exceptional teen” she was told she was. Instead of saving the world like a superhero, Trina chose a more realistic career path. 

Life As an Actuary

Some of the various jobs that Trina has worked include: as a Ski Patroller including avalanche control work, a Sailor on tall ships, and a Museum Interpreter specializing in demonstrating 19th century skills such as blacksmithing techniques. More recently, Trina discovered a new calling when she became an Actuary.  

Before entering this field, Trina had heard mostly negatives about Actuary work. People had told her: “They’re really boring people. They take a lot of tests, but you’re paid a fair amount of money to do this really awful, boring job”.

When choosing her next career, Trina had to decide on the “correct” option. She initially was concerned that she was taking a job that wouldn’t satisfy her, but later made a realization:

 “What I found out was that I was wrong. This [the work of an Actuary] is pretty cool! [chuckles]”. 

To help fully understand the tasks of her job, she then enthusiastically and passionately narrated a series of metaphors and hypothetical situations to answer my uncertainty. Her love for Actuarial work radiated through our phone call!

In fact, her attainment was inspiring. She spoke about becoming a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries after passing a series of 10 exams, which generally have a 45% pass rate.

““When it comes down to it, being an actuary is about assessing and putting a monetary value on risk. In my particular specialty within the actuarial field, I work with companies that are trying to assess the risks from their operations and set aside funding to pay for any loss obligations that result. Some risks are fairly predictable: if a company owns a large fleet of vehicles, there are going to be some auto accidents every year, and they are often relatively predictable. Other risks are more specialized, possibly unique to one company depending on the kind of work they do. The challenge lies in designing a model that appropriately reflects the risks involved in a given company. I love finding out about the risks of specific companies, some of which touch our lives everyday.”

Beyond Actuary work, Trina also volunteers as a ski patroller at Sugarbush. From bright and early at 6:55 am, Trina would be at the mountain to head up the ski lifts, and will remain there until the lifts shut down- ensuring that everyone gets off the mountain safely. She also provides first aid to injured skiers, maintenance work on the trails, and works with the young adult program. Trina has been a member of the National Ski Patrol for 30 years, though she has called different ski areas “home” over time.  

Although Trina had doubts about being an “exceptional teenager” who is the “best of the brightest”, her joy, achievements, and genuine love for her work is exceptional and truly bright!