CIT Turned Counselor: Jillian

My name is Jillian Boccia. I grew up in Oyster Bay, on Long Island, with my mom. Even though I am an only child, I have had my fair share of pet fish to keep me company!

I have been a cheerleader since I was about seven years old and still continue to cheer as a Binghamton University Bearcat. Throughout high school, I also coached cheerleading for the Oyster Bay Roughriders for about 6 years. Along with cheerleading, I enjoy just about any form of exercise, spending time with friends and family, and just being social.

My favorite books are the Great Gatsby and Catcher in the Rye, my favorite color is pink, and my favorite quote is “Once we believe in ourselves, we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight, or any experience that reveals the human spirit.” from E.E. Cummings.

I have always been a camper in the truest sense of the word. But once I became too old to be a camper, I decided to search for a CIT program that would be a good fit me. I interviewed at a NSDC Open House weekend and from then on, I knew I loved NSDC! I just finished my 5th year working at NSDC and can’t believe how time has flown!

The friendships and relationships I’ve made at camp between other counselors and staff, and even the campers too, are definitely my favorite part about working here.  I love how I get to spend my summer days with all these wonderful people, and I get to do it outside in such beautiful surroundings.

Looking back, one of my favorite camp memories would probably be dress-up day 2 summers ago, when all of the counselors in my division dressed up as Stu and all of our campers dressed up as Joni. Another was when the first and second grade girls, for two years straight in a row, had a “less than stellar” performance during “North Shore’s Got Talent.” We would preform one routine and then immediately get voted off! The outfits were hilarious. Sometimes what seems to be an awful thing actually turns out to be the funniest and most memorable!

Camp has without a doubt changed me for the better and I look forward to returning to camp summer after summer!