A Summer Job Becomes a Life-Changing Career Path
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“What am I going to do?”
It’s a common question asked by college students and graduates regarding their summers and their future beyond getting their degree.
“I just wanted to find something different,” said Maria M., one such young adult from Aguascalientes, Mexico, who was searching for a new experience.
Enter Easterseals New Hampshire and its rural summer camp, about 150 miles from the Canadian border.
A Transformative Summer, 2,000+ Miles Away
Maria had heard about summer programs in the United States, but she was skeptical, since she knew nothing about them.
“When I was learning about these programs, you think that some websites could be scams,” she said. “But I found out about this because of my university, so I felt better. This is a big thing going on.”
And by “big thing,” she meant the work and travel programs that organizations like CIEE: Council on International Education Exchange offer. Founded in 1947, CIEE is the country’s oldest and largest nonprofit study abroad and intercultural exchange organization.
It’s through CIEE that she found out about Camp Sno-Mo, a summer camp for individuals with special needs run by Easterseals New Hampshire.
Maria applied to become a camp counselor. Even after nabbing the job, she had butterflies.
"I was really nervous because I didn't have experience with special needs,” Maria said. “I thought, ‘This is scary – but at the same time, it was exciting.’”
Those nerves continued into the first week. “After that,” she said, “everything was like, ‘Wow!’ I loved it.”
“It was a good match,” she said, referring to working with CIEE and connecting with Camp Sno-Mo.
Why Maria Chooses CIEE“I feel confident about being with CIEE. All the paperwork and everything, it's become kind of easy. You feel safe – that's a big one. You have all this information about who to call, when to call.” |
The Impact a Summer Can Make
“My first year, I was so emotional,” Maria said. “I was crying all the time – but not in a bad way! I was crying because I was so happy. I was looking at the campers having so much fun.”
Now, in 2025, Maria took on her fourth summer at Camp Sno-Mo – and her role has expanded in that time.
“I was a camp counselor for two years,” she said. “They asked me if I wanted to be an assistant director. It’s something that I love – I love being able to help every camper. I have a vision on this campus to inspire others.”
Maria’s time in New Hampshire has also inspired growth in herself. She’s veered away from her original dream of an engineering career.
“I am also thinking of starting a master’s in education,” she said. “I just love being with kids, and I would like to work on helping special needs kids in my country. I want to do something different with my life.”
Meeting just a few campers made that happen.
“You help them make a change, at least one time in their life.”
You, too, can become a camp counselor in the United States! Learn more about what the CIEE camp counselor program involves.