As the semester unfolds, a group of students are gearing up for the upcoming Fish Camp, an important part of Texas A&M’s traditions and community-building efforts.
Fish Camp stands as a cornerstone of campus culture, offering incoming freshmen the opportunity to connect with their peers during the summer. As the next iteration of camp approaches, prospective leaders are busy navigating the application process and preparing for a semester full of preparation.
“Right now, we’re going to start the counselor interviews, which I’m really excited about,” said junior Grant Taylor in management information systems. “I can’t wait to meet all the potential mentors.”
In addition to submitting applications, candidates undergo an interview process to ensure they possess the qualities necessary to serve as mentors and role models. All applications and interviews are conducted by chairs, a student who leads 24 counselors, overseeing an entire camp with a co-chair.
“Personally, I’m looking for counselors who love Fish Camp and are willing to fully commit to it,” Taylor said. “Being excited and eager to dive into Fish Camp is definitely a quality I look for in potential mentors.”
As applicants submit applications and prepare for potential interviews, chairs prepare to embark on a semester-long journey of training and preparation, honing their leadership skills and developing strategies to make the experience memorable. the upcoming Fish Camp experience. With guidance for counselors, a team of two chairs manages an entire camp together.
“My role is to guide my advisors in the right direction, to encourage and correct them along the way,” Taylor said. “I strongly believe that respect goes both ways, so if I respect my mentors as an equal, I believe they will respect me in return.”
Communications junior Leah Shaw, a chair, said she feels Fish Camp’s internal ranks are looser than other organizations.
“Honestly, I feel like we’re all college kids and different titles carry different responsibilities than authorities,” Shaw said. “I want my advisors and freshmen to be friends so we can have mutual respect.”
As the Fish Camp team continues to grow, prospective counselors are eager for the summer. Data engineering sophomore Sydney Flake is ready to make a positive impact on the Class of 2028 in her second year as an advisor.
“I’m looking forward to this summer, to be honest,” Flake said. “I know the camps will be different as a second year but that’s what I’m really looking forward to. I like the leadership experience and the additional responsibilities that come with it.”
