3 days 3 years ago changed my life

NSLP 2015 showed me how 3 days, 3 years ago somehow managed to change my life. I learned today that it was okay to cry in the woods early Sunday morning. Because today I realized why I was truly crying, I realized I'm happy I walked into the woods where I probably wasn't supposed to be and just let go. For a total of approximately 12 days out of my life I was at NSLP. This was a series of four different trips to Triple C Camp in Charlottesville, Virginia that managed to change me for the better. I thought that when I was in the woods I was crying about that fact that I would never again step foot at NSLP, but that's not the case. NSLP taught me to be a leader. NSLP gave me my best friend, and indirectly gave me my favorite little blonde freshman. NSLP helped me find myself, find my passion, and more importantly allowed me to help others find themselves as well. NSLP 2015 reminded me to always have a heart and reminded me that even if you're in a 'competition' to cheer on your competitors because you really are proud of them too. As I stood in the woods wiping my tears away I thought I was wiping away tears of sadness. Tears that represented my weakness and inability to move on, but I wasn't. I was wiping away tears of joy, tears of confidence and most importantly tears of success. How I thought this crying was a bad thing I will never understand. NSLP holds one of the most special places in my heart. I am a better person because of NSLP. I strive because of NSLP. I am a success because of NSLP. Now one day out of NSLP 2015 I have realized that those tears are a representation of the power, laughter, success, joy, adventure, passion, happiness and pure love that is NSLP. Those tears prove that NSLP 2012 did it's job. That 3 years later I'm a better person with better people in my life because of it. I thank you NSLP, you have changed my life in so many ways. So if you my reader needs to, go cry, go to wherever your "woods" may be and cry, because it's so heartwarming to come to realize what something or someone truly means to you.

"Who can say if I've been changed for the better? But because I knew you, I have been changed for good."