My internship this summer with Southern Pines Recreation has exceeded any and all expectations I had.

Arriving in Southern Pines in May, I didn’t really know what to expect, but was quickly thrown into the mix.

This summer I have been able to put my Certified Pool Operator (CPO) certification to use at the S.P. Pool, helping balance pool chemicals at the start of the season and helping occasionally throughout the summer.

I was able to be a day camp counselor, tagging along on the day trips as an extra chaperone, helping drive the vans, and doing science experiments and crafts with children ages 5-13.

I helped coach a 10-12-year-old boys’ basketball team, which was so much fun. The boys seemed to have a good time and I could really see them improve as the summer went on.

I lined ball fields with William Smith, park supervisor, and his crew, and got to mow some grass at the Armory ball field as well. I helped Drew Rybarczyk lead exhilarating games and matches of “Capture the Flag,” helped clean out a storage shed, organizing tons and tons of donated golf clubs. I am now an experienced golf cart driver and enjoyed helping organize the Summer Golf League. I am also great at caddying for the kids and carrying their golf clubs.

My customer service skills came in handy when I filled in at the recreation office front desk and handled a mountain of camp registrations during the first few weeks that I worked for the department.

I have thoroughly enjoyed working at Southern Pines Recreation & Parks Department this summer and am thankful for all the opportunities they provided me in order to better ready me for the real world. It has been a pleasure working with everyone in the office as well as all the day camp staff.

After my last basketball game I was sad to say goodbye to the head coach and all the boys. It was that much harder my last day to leave everyone behind and return to Appalachian to finish my last semester.

Katie Nelson is a senior at Appalachian State University majoring in recreation management.