STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

theotherjess · Chanel

Making money vs. making a difference

sage · Dooney & Bourke

I voted for working at the camp. As I was reading your post I was thinking if I could go work at a camp I would be there in a flash. I really think this would be rewarding for you as well as the kids. You can make money some other time!!

erin · Chanel

i voted camp because you can always work in retail. (which can be decidedly unfun at times)

ejc423 · Coach

Please work at the camp! You will be so glad you did, and if you don't work there, you will always be thinking, "man, I wish I were at camp right now". Plus, you probably won't be spending much of the money you make, so you will have at least a little saved up!

Metric · Gucci

I think it would be a great experience but for a short time. But I wouldn't want to be permanently underpaid.

Maddie · Coach

I work at camp and would defintely reccomend it. It's so much fun. And I make about the same, but it feels like a lot of money cause you're at camp so you have no where to spend it. Take advantage of being able to do this while you can. What kind of camp is it?

NCshopper · Hermes

I think you should definitely be a camp counselor! I did it for the summer after my freshman year of college and I loved it! I also worked 24 hr days and got $120 a week, which SUCKS, but on the other hand, if you're living at camp and having all your meals there and no time to shop, you might actually find that you'll have more in your bank account at the end of the summer than you would if you worked retail at the mall.

Definitely be a camp counselor while you're young. It's so much fun and its so rewarding to see your work make a direct impact on young peoples' lives--its not something you'll see much of once you graduate college.

theotherjess · Chanel

Maddie wrote:

What kind of camp is it?

It's just a summer camp, with the usual canoeing and campfires and what not, but it's a Christian camp that has really affected my life, especially my faith.

Thanks for the encouragment. If you all have any more advice or suggestions that would be great!

sage · Dooney & Bourke

I was thinking the same thing some of the other girls mentioned, if you are at the camp you won't be spending your money!! Truthfully, you may end up with more!! Go for the camp, theotherjess!! Will you have computer access? If not, you will be missed, but just think of all fun you will have and you won't be stuck in the mall.

honey · Gucci

camp! i worked as a camp counselor summer after freshmen year of college and it was so much fun. if you work retail you'll probably end up spending all your money in the store.

kenzie · Chanel

BrazenCanadian wrote:

I think it would be a great experience but for a short time. But I wouldn't want to be permanently underpaid.

I agree. If you can swing it for the summer, do it. But if you are not going to be able to pay your bills, I suggest that you do the job in retail. It's just not fun to not be able to pay your bills (shopping isn't even an option when you can't afford groceries).

ILoveChoo · Hermes

in addition to the 120/wk would you be provided with food and a place to sleep? If so, definately do the camp! As long as you can afford to cover the rest of your bills, I think it will be a great experience.

DC Shopper · Dooney & Bourke

camp! retail sucks, plus if you're like me you'll spend all your hard earned cash on the same tees you're folding anyway.

you'll end up saving money with the camp job since you can't shop, and you'll get so much more out of it (and i think it looks better on a resume - you will use a lot more skills and creativity at camp).

Lilykind · Hermes

Oh please be a camp counselor! I actually remember ALL of the counselors I ever had and they were all such awesome people!

I got paid $6/hr to be a camp counselor when I was 16. It was my first job and I enjoyed it throughly. It was nostalgic for me too, since I had gone to the same camp as a kid and enjoyed it so much. I fed them all breakfast and lunch (it was a day camp) and played with them. I loved all my kids and even though it was hard work, it eventually ended up looking great on my resume since I ended up doing internships and now getting a job where I work with kids on a regular basis.

You have plenty of time to work retail.

theotherjess · Chanel

Let me just start off by saying how great it is to be able to come here for encouragement. You guys are seriously the best ever.

A lot of you pointed out that I won't be able to spend money, which is true. I guess I could sort of think of it as an extended shopping ban, right?

sage- There's a computer in the staff lounge, but I think that's just for randomly checking short stuff, like email. If I get a laptop for graduation, I could bring it but would probably only be able to use it on days off (1 every 2 week session). Talk about going through stylethread withdrawal!

oliviacw · BCBG

DC Shopper wrote:

(and i think it looks better on a resume - you will use a lot more skills and creativity at camp).

It definitely looks better on a resume! Go for the camp counselor job.

atlgirl · Gucci

Some of the best weeks of my young life were spent at summer camp. And the counselors were *always* awesome. I remember them still even though it's been "many a long year" since I went to camp.

I think that all other things aside -money, resume, shopping - it's an experience that you (and the kids) will never forget. I absolutely think you should do it.

(Plus, running around after kids all summer, you'll probably be in great shape when it's all over...) *s*