Famous children’s writer Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, once said, “adults are just outdated children.” This statement stands true in so many ways.

For the past six summers, I have worked as a day-camp counselor at a local park district back home. Each day, campers — ages five to eleven years old — and counselors take part in a various activities like swimming, hiking and playing kickball. Each day comes with a brand new adventure.

Though many people refuse to work with children, everyone should do it at least once because of the countless life lessons it will teach that will carry on into adulthood.

Firstly, working with children teaches the valuable lesson of patience. Sometimes children know how to push your buttons and drive you over the edge. Patience will come in handy down the line when a boss or anyone else tries to send you to the point of no return.

Secondly, at such a young age, children do not stress or care much about anything — except for maybe how much money the Tooth Fairy will bring or whether or not their parents will buy them ice cream. Yes, adults should care about their job, family and any other life responsibilities. But if they take after children and just let go of worries, life will become more pleasurable.

A third lesson: Adults should be more like children and just be happy with who they are. At day camp, campers make crafts periodically throughout the summer. They let their creative juices run wild. They all think they are Vincent van Gogh and do not mind what anyone else thinks. Often, adults need the approval of others before they’re satisfied.

Yet another thing can be learned through a child’s sense of adventure. No matter what kind of activity they take part in, every camper is ready for a new adventure. They take life by the horns and live it to the fullest. Adults should be more like children in this sense because as people grow older, they will look back and regret all of the wonderful adventures they missed out on.

Last but not least, working with children teaches the valuable lesson of leadership. Like running a business, a school or even an entire country, a counselor must make sure each camper does everything they are suppose to while also enjoying what they do. If one can lead fifty children every day, then someone can run something much bigger in the future, like a business.

Growing up can be difficult. All of the responsibilities adults have to take care of on a daily basis can suck the life out of someone. Dr. Seuss was right. Adults are outdated children. Working with children is one of the best experiences anyone can have, and it will help out in life in the long run.

Noah is a sophomore in LAS.

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