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mini notebooks

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── ⟢ ・⸝⸝ About Me

hi! i'm zy (he/him), a digital artist, trampoline fanatic, content creator and of course, a writer!! i'm from the wondrous, mystical land of the pst timezone, home to one of the latest swc start times. this summer, i'll be preparing to head into my junior year of high school and my first year of college! i'm a dual enrollment student, and i'm really looking forward to getting to experience more opportunities and life skills while i attend my local college.

digital art and design is a big part of my life, and i try to spend as much time on it as i can!! i love learning new techniques and styles and experimenting with color and new character designs.

TRAMPOLINE !!!!! self explanatory ;D

i also really enjoy making and posting content to various platforms!! my consistency in actually doing so has been a struggle, but i try to make time for it since it's something i'm passionate about. my goal is to reach one thousand followers by the end of the year (i'm dreaming big shhh)

and i, of course, love writing! it was my first passion and its something i've been doing since i was really young. my life has always revolved around writing and coming up with unique stories to tell, and finding the swc community has only strengthened that! i truly love everything this community is and all the things it has taught me and all the friends i've made <3

my goals for this session are somewhat lackluster, but i'd really like to spend more time engaging with everyone and enjoying the process rather than spending all my time worrying about how to hit my word goal.
- write 15k words
unlike both of my previous sessions, i'm not looking to double my word count. i'm planning to expand on the depth of the characters in my novel, write some scripts, and hopefully a few songs? :eyes: hitting so much more than my word goal last session was an amazing feeling, but it left me somewhat burned out and i don't want to end up disliking what i spend my time on!
- try something new
for a vague bit of inspiration, i'm challenging myself to do something new! it doesn't have to be definite, refined, or even logical. the strangest paths often take us to the best places.

── ⟢ ・⸝⸝ Past Experience

This will be my 16th session of SWC!! I've learned so much from every single session, and I'm so thankful to have found this amazing community here on scratch <3

past sessions camping:
July 20 - (Fantasy) -Alocasia and Foxies4Ever
Nov 20 - (Real-Fi) holographic, pitau, and apart-
Mar 21 - (Dystopian) Bellevue91, MiraculousLover05, and ViennaLeWeirdo
July 21 - (Mystery) sproutdoodlq and ViennaLeWeirdo
Nov 21 - (Poetry) Elvin_Wonders, Sunclaw68, and PandasCodingGames
Mar 22 - (was in Non-Fi, switched to Sci-Fi) Rey_venclaw, -limeade, 129waterfall, and Starrial
July 22 - (Dystopian) ButterPopcorn8, Starrial, 2GS6, and Firetender
Nov 22 - (Sci-Fi) Spire-, bookworm_4ever12, and gh0stwriter
Mar 23 - (Horror) EeveeDonut, MouseLoverr, Spire-, and Lesixiq-
July 23 - (Adventure) rocksalmon800, scratch_warrior_cat, minergold48
Nov 23 - (Sci-Fi) MouseLoverr, Eeveedonut, CelinaWrites, Firetender
July 24 (Gothic) mossflower29, opheliio, -BookDragon-, -vanillamochabear-

past sessions leading:
March 24 - (Sci-Fi) Zionykon (me), essayist, ForestPanther
Nov 24 - (Mystery) Zyzeryko, cinnamcnx, Surfdudewave
March 25 - (Dystopian) Zyzeryko, yumetopia, Froggola

My leadership experience online involves mostly SWC, but I've also led and hosted a few other writing camps over the years! In general, I don't tend to gravitate towards leadership roles in real life, but I have spent quite a bit of time volunteering, working a part time job, and watching over smaller kids! As far as my writing experience goes, I've taken a ton of writing classes and courses throughout middle and high school and I've also completed several writing projects over the years.

── ⟢ ・⸝⸝ Preferences

While I would be incredibly happy to be considered to co/lead any cabin, there are a few that are at the top of my list this session!! They are:
- Sci-Fi
- Thriller ⭒
- Mystery
- Dystopian
- Horror ⭒
- Cyberpunk
- Apocalyptic ⭒

Having led Sci-Fi, Mystery and Dystopian before, they fall slightly lower in terms of my favorability towards leading them; however, I love these genres and would be super hyped to lead any of them again! This session, my top choices are Thriller, Apocalyptic and Horror!! in addition to the cabins on this list, i would also be interested in co/leading tragedy, adventure, steampunk, and action.

My idea for this cabin is not fully fleshed out as I prefer to work out details within my team, but I'd really like to attempt something with a creepier vibe! I'm thinking maybe an outbreak or apocalypse, in which a group of people (the cabin) must survive by completing various problems and trying to find a cure. I think this would fit best with any of my three main preferences, as it could be changed slightly and improved upon to be either a horror, thriller or apocalypse theme. I'm also very open to trying something else entirely, in any genre! There's no such thing as bad SWC cabin ;D

Unfortunately, there are a couple of cabins I would not be willing to co/lead this session. These are TCTWNW, Non-Fi, and Romance. While I do enjoy reading and even occasionally writing in these genres, I don't think i would be best suited to lead them and I would never want my lack of enthusiasm towards a leadership role in any of these cabins to negatively affect the experience of everyone else.

── ⟢ ・⸝⸝ Excerpt

349 words
Black silhouettes against green fog showed us what perfection cost. Cigarette ashes floating in an icy reflection of the moon against the waves told us what our legacy had deprived us of. Choice.
Blood in the water let us believe our choices lined our fate. Day or night, sunset or sunrise, the waters were always filled with thrown away lives. The black waves of the high midnight tide stole innocents from shore, while the golden seafoam of sunrises let us believe in a fate better than our own as they dragged us to a brutal demise.
I used to sit in the bay window of the kitchen, watching the tide lap at the sand peacefully.
I used to think it couldn’t touch us.
I used to think we were safe.
Until we weren’t.

I’ve been seeing the figures since they wrapped barbed wire around my neck and dragged me to their depths. I’ve heard their screams since I drowned. I’ve known their stories since I came back up, not quite dead but never truly alive.
Some of us weren’t so lucky. _ bled in red all the way to her death because she thought someone would save her. And when no one did… well, you get the picture.
“Amirrora.”
My head snapped to the gaze of the woman in front of me. “Yes?”
“Your head is screwed on backwards, child. You fail to listen to the advice of people who have fallen down the same rabbit hole.”
“Okay.”
The woman, tall and in a tailored suit, tilted her head at me curiously, as if I were a strange specimen instead of a bitter corpse. When people lectured me before, I cared. Too much, perhaps. But not now. Not anymore. These people were too far removed from my reality to understand what I knew all too well.
“Am I free to go, now?” I asked, my face as expressionless as ever.
The woman sighed and waved her hand at me in dismissal. “Don’t let this happen again.”
But we both knew it would. Dead people are notoriously hard to ignore.

── ⟢ ・⸝⸝ Time Dedication

During SWC and the months leading up to it, I would generally be able to dedicate about two hours a day to SWC, planning, or the SWC activities! My main commitments outside of SWC include schoolwork and my personal life!! I spend a few hours a day working on my art and content, but this part of my day is very flexible, as well as the time I spend doing coursework for school over the summer. Between my interests and schoolwork, including time with my family and rest, this amount of time should work perfectly for me!!

── ⟢ ・⸝⸝ Time Management

My skills in time management are always growing stronger as I try to maintain my consistency in working towards my goals. Some of my skills include:

- Planning ahead: I do my best to plan ahead by getting things done ahead of schedule, working on projects until completion so they don't get put off, and involving everyone in the process so we can finish with a coherent end result in advance, allowing us to account for absences, rethink certain aspects, or include more details! Doing this allows us to maintain a very stress-free environment where no one struggles or feels left alone.

- Dedication: even when my consistency is questionable, my dedication to a project is definite! Once I've started working on something, I am able to completely focus on it. This lets me work on something with a lot of ambition and passion over a quick time, allowing things to be completed quickly with excess time to add to an original work. Dedicating myself to my projects is always a very exciting feeling, and accomplishing the things I set out to feels very rewarding! My dedication has allowed me to take on big projects and complete them not only on time, but with of satisfaction.

- Organization: I consider myself to be a fairly organized person when it comes to engaging with a project! I always have a to-do list and I consistently looking for fun and unique ways to get things done in order to get around my weaknesses in time management. I understand what I need to do my best work, and I pride myself on being able to give myself exactly what helps me the most. This organization and my larger understanding of how I work best has been super helpful not only in leadership work but in my daily life!

However, there are definitely some things I'm trying to work on. My shortcomings in time management are:

- Lack of consistency: put simply, I get easily burned out and tired working on one thing for a long period of time. While this doesn't necessarily impact my role as a SWC co/leader due to the unique planning structure of SWC and the short time of the sessions, I am still trying to improve on my ability to work on a bigger project over a longer period of time without needing to see immediate payoff. My dedication to a project on a shorter timeframe allows me to complete them quickly, while my issues with consistency in working on a longtime projects holds me back from completing things that don't have a set start and end. One thing I'm currently trying to get around this is by picking a specific day/time and always working on the project at the same time, allowing it to become a habit and even an exciting thing to look forward to!

- Procrastination: much like my issues with consistency, procrastination often ends up putting me in a spot where I struggle to finish projects, even things I really enjoy, because the energy it costs me to start something is too daunting. This, in part, comes from my warped expectations of how long things take. I've definitely found an easy, almost too simple strategy for coping with procrastination, being to just start! It sounds very surface level, but when mustering up the energy to work on a project feels exhausting, the best thing that's worked for me is to just get started with even a tiny task and let it snowball!

── ⟢ ・⸝⸝ Collaboration and Assets

Collaborating with other people on a bigger project is truly so much fun, and it's come to be something I really look forward to. Here are some of my strengths in working with others:
- Receptive to unique perspectives and critique: I consider myself to be someone who is very receptive to the unique perspectives and ideas of others or their critique! As a leader and largely as a person, it's very important to me to be someone who can understand and take meaningful advice without being hurt or frustrated by the intentions of other people. Going along with this, I love to hear the distinctive ideas and understandings of other people!

- Communication with others: I'm a very open person, and I pride myself on my ability to overtly state how I feel or my personal ideas when working with a group. I can acknowledge that communication isn't just speaking and listening, but working to make sure everyone's ideas are voiced and considered equally in order to cultivate a space where each person can rely on the fact that voicing your own perspective and ideas can only build a stronger result.

- Building relationships: I'm able to establish a relationship with anyone, regardless of who they are. I really enjoy getting to know new people and find common ground where we can elaborate on our shared interests and exchange positive support with one another. This lets me form tight-knit bonds with all types of people, which makes group settings and teamwork so much more feasible and fun!

I have my fair share of difficulty in working in a group setting as well, though it's something I'm working on. Here are some of my weaknesses in working with others:

- Difficulty with lack of structure: as someone who is generally very organized, I find it hard to work in unstructured settings where goals are undefined or lack steps required for their completion. It's overwhelming for me to get something done in an environment where expectations are vague or indefinite. As of late, the best way I've been countering this is by asking specifically for a goal or project, and breaking it up into manageable chunks for myself!

- Overreliance on feedback and being perceived: I tend to spend a lot of my time focusing on how people perceive my work when critiquing it, relating back to my receptiveness to criticism. I've always let how people perceive me contrast how I see myself, leading to me overthink about small details and worry about how other people view me. So even though my receptiveness to critique is a positive trait in my eyes, it can lead to me overthinking about the ways in which I could improve how others see me.

- Overcommitment: overcommitting to activities has been a big struggle for me this past year, since there are many things I enjoy or even just want to try. This leads to things falling apart because resources are spread too thin to realistically achieve everything we set out to, and it feels disappointing to have to cut back on ideas. Recently, I've been working on accomplishing only current tasks before slowly introducing new things in a reasonable timeframe.

Here are the assets I could bring to a leadership team:
- Art: I've been doing digital art for about fix and a half years now, and I consider myself to be of a solid skill level! I would be glad to offer up this skill to any sort of team I'm on.
- Ambition: I'm an extremely ambitious person, and I'm always willing to give my all to a project or group.
- Resourcefulness: I'm a very resourceful person, and I use everyday sources to draw ideas and life experience. This has helped me on a team in the past when inspiration and motivation was running low.
- Coding: Having taken computer science and been coding since I was much younger, my coding skills are of a decent enough level that I feel I would be able to help out a team with them!

── ⟢ ・⸝⸝ One Quality

I've looked through a lot of lists of adjectives, important qualities, and even my own past applications to try and find something that is both meaningful and, in my own opinion, the most important quality of being a leader that personally applies to me, before I finally landed on compassion. To me, compassion is a simple understanding that everyone is living a different life, with unique struggles and weights that impact them. As a leader, in my past roles and a person in general, compassion always comes first! Within SWC and a leadership team, I always acknowledge that people have different experiences that lead them to the perspectives and beliefs that they have. I can empathize with all people and recognize that while I may not always agree with someone, the most fundamental part of being a leader of any kind is appreciating your experience with all kinds of people.

── ⟢ ・⸝⸝ Cabin Atmosphere

Make friends, solve puzzles and enjoy your time playing through a complex storyline with a unique vibe as we venture into new territory to escape the outbreak.

159 characters
*Based on my storyline idea from question 3

── ⟢ ・⸝⸝ Question 10

10A:
√ I will add points consistently throughout camp
X I will not share a promotional project for SWC

10B:
No, I am confident in my abilities to complete them all!

10C:
In the case of my own inactivity, I would first inform the hosts, my team, and my cabin that I will be unavailable. Of course, it depends a lot based on the situation; if I were involved in an immediate emergency where I would not be able to contact people, I would only try to get online as soon as the situation allowed and make it clear that I would be unavailable. Ideally, I'd like to not leave any work undone so that we don't end up in a situation where an absence throws us off schedule! In the case of the inactivity from someone on my team, I'd first like to confirm the inactivity by reaching out a couple times. If I do not receive a reply, I would notify the hosts and the other members of the leadership team of the inactivity and make a plan to cover their absence, such as taking on additional responsibilities until the missing member can return!

CLEV'S LEADER APP.

1. About Me (263 words)
Hi, I’m Clev! I’m an INFP-T, a Hufflepuff, and an ambivert. This will be my third time applying for a leadership role in SWC, and I’m super excited to try again. I use they/them pronouns, and I reside in the epic time zone of EST.

Scratch has been a huge part of my life, and I’ve made so many memories on this site. I first joined this website in August of 2017 – almost eight years ago! These days, I only stay here for SWC, but in the 5-year span of this account, I’ve made so many memories that I’ll remember forever.

Besides Scratch, I have a few other hobbies: I love sleeping (yes, that is a hobby), writing poetry, and playing the saxophone. Like others, I love listening to music; getting lost in the rhythms is so amazing. My current favorite song is Scott Street (Phoebe Bridgers), and I’m eagerly anticipating Lorde’s new album! Also, the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest is this Saturday, which I’m SUPER excited for; I’d love to talk to anyone about it!!

Recently, I’ve been thinking a lot about growing up. As another school year is ending, I feel like I’ve been getting older; soon, I’ll be ready to start a new stage of my life. But still, I try to cherish the present and make the most out of it! I always believe that everything will work out in the end (trust).

Anyways, that’s a little information that I’d like to share with you! I love meeting new people, so feel free to drop a comment anytime.

2. Past Participation (254 words)
In the March 2025 session, I reached my tenth SWC session! Here’s a list of the past cabins I’ve been a part of, as well as any roles I’ve had.
Contemporary: Nov ‘20 - Camper
Myth: March ‘21 - Camper
Dystopian: July ‘21 - Camper
Script: Nov ‘22 - Camper
Fantasy: July ‘23 - Camper
Mystery: Nov ‘23 - Co-leader, MBC Member
Thriller: March ‘24 - Camper, MBC Member, Mercenary
Thriller: July ‘24 (TCTWNW) - Camper
Magical Realism: Nov ‘24 - Co-leader
Journalism: March ‘25 - Camper

In my time at SWC, I’ve been in a bunch of different cabins, whether as a co-leader or a camper. I’m also familiar with the Memory Book Committee and the cabin war mercenary system! I’ve seen many different aspects of this camp, and I’d love to expand my horizons as a leader.

Outside of Scratch, I hold a few leadership positions. For example, I’m currently the vice president of my grade’s class office, after previously being the treasurer! My time in our school’s class office has shown me how to plan and coordinate events, communicate with admin, and dedicate time to running activities. While there have been mistakes in the past, I believe that working with the other officers has definitely solved many issues.

Additionally, I’m also a member of our school’s writing club; I’ve entered writing competitions (such as the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards) and have been recognized for my pieces! I have also been published in our school’s literary magazine three times now; these experiences have allowed me to share my writing with others.

3. Cabin Preferences (229 words)
Though I’d be happy with leading any cabin, I have a few ideas for some cabins to lead!

Script – I’d love for Script to make a return, as I had so much fun in November ‘22. I have an idea of theming the cabin around Shakespeare and his plays. Campers would experience a new play every week (such as Romeo & Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and more), where they’d complete activities and interact with each other.

Romance – PLEASE BRING ROMANCE BACK!! I’m currently thinking of a cabin centered around a Romance Hotel, where campers explore different areas in the hotel (the elevator, the balcony, etc.), and complete fun tasks together. I love the idea of bringing this genre back!

Myth – I've noticed that most Myth cabins have focused on Greek/Roman mythology (though, as an avid Percy Jackson fan, there’s nothing wrong with that!). However, I’d love to bring some attention to lesser-known cultures. I’m currently thinking of a cabin focusing on Celtic mythology set in the Otherworld, where campers meet different deities, such as Morrigan and the cat-sith.

Besides those three cabins, I’d love to lead any genre! I’m a pretty flexible person, and I always love having new experiences. As for TCTWNW, I’d prefer not to lead it; in July, I anticipate having more free time, so I’d prefer to participate in the competitive aspect of SWC.


4. Excerpt (497 words)
From a meeting with Death, my November 2024 writing comp entry! https://scratch.mit.edu/discuss/post/8553700/


5. Time Dedication (124 words)
I expect to dedicate up to three hours each day for SWC during July. As school will not be happening, I’ll have a lot of free time on my hands for writing. As of right now, I am currently not traveling anywhere for extended periods, and I will be active throughout the day. I’m also planning to spend more time writing during the summer, which will be perfect for SWC!

However, I will be volunteering for a few hours each week, though I do not expect it to take large amounts of time away from my day. Since my exams are over (as of today!), I’d also be able to spend ample time planning the cabin with the leadership team during May and June.


6. Time Management (320 words)
Personally, time management is a skill I have a love-hate relationship with. I know just how important it is, yet sometimes, I have difficulty managing the time needed for my tasks. However, over the past month, I’ve changed my approach to it, due to exams happening.

I believe a strength I have is the ability to distinguish and prioritize short and long-term tasks. In SWC, there are many short-term tasks, such as inviting campers and adding points, as well as long-term tasks, such as planning the storyline and creating in-cabin activities. I feel confident in balancing these different tasks and prioritizing certain ones.

For example, when studying for tests, I always make sure to focus on the exam that’s the closest; however, when time permits, I also make sure to review concepts for tests in the future, so I’m not cramming everything at the last minute. I believe, as a leader, I can use this skill to effectively manage which tasks the team should focus on when planning the cabin.

I often have difficulty switching from working and taking a break. When I’ve worked for a while, I naturally take a break; yet, many times, I find it hard to go back to work. The prospect of spending time doing a difficult task is pretty daunting to me, and it often leads to me procrastinating.

However, recently, I’ve been able to get better at this. I like to motivate myself by thinking about the result of the task being finished. Also, if I really do not feel like doing work, I do not pressure myself into doing it. This has left me feeling a lot better (maybe it’s those missed hours of sleep…) and refreshed; hopefully, this can develop as a habit in the future. Since SWC is an activity I love being a part of, I’ll definitely have a lot more motivation to complete tasks on a timely basis!

7. Collaboration (280 words)
I love working with others; there’s something I love about listening to others’ perspectives and collaborating to create an awesome end result. I’ve had a lot of experience working with others, such as in class office, and I’ve found myself to have a few strengths and weaknesses.

I’d say that I’m pretty good at listening to everyone when working in a team. I’m the type of person that tries to talk to everybody when working on a group project. When I’m on a leadership team, I always make sure to consult with everyone else about any opinions I have on how to go forward! In SWC, this strength will make the team hear many perspectives regarding the best way to plan the cabin.

A weakness I have in collaboration is that when I’m behind, I have difficulty catching up. In the past, I’ve been swallowed up by exams and other activities, which led me to spend less time working with my team. And, when the activities ended, I had trouble going back to the team and catching up on what I missed.

However, in July, I’ll be able to dedicate a lot more time towards (co)leading the cabin, which can help me stay active when collaborating. And, if I do get behind, I won’t focus too much of my energy on what I missed. Instead, I’ll focus more on what I can do to keep moving forward and help the team progress.

I believe, if I apply these strengths and weaknesses, I’ll be able to communicate and work effectively with the team; whether it’s by making decisions as a group or by focusing on the present tasks at hand.

8. One Quality (139 words)
One quality that I embody is activity. For the two times I’ve co-led, I always set aside time to help the cabin run smoothly. In my past experience in SWC, I’ve noticed that I loved the cabins that were more active (#mysteryforever), as I interacted with many more people and had a better experience.

As a (co)leader, I aim to continue meeting new people and being active on SWC throughout the session. Whether you are a seasoned veteran or a first-timer, having active leaders is crucial to having more fun and learning more about SWC. Additionally, on the leadership team, being active and communicating with others will help the cabin run more efficiently!

Thus, I am confident in being active on the leadership team and helping the campers have a good time throughout the session through my interactions.

9. Atmosphere (194 characters)
This cabin aims to focus on forming connections, having a good time, and making new memories. With a sprinkle of friendly competition mixed in with a casual storyline, everyone is welcome here.


10. Checklist (88 words)
A.
☑ Yes, I will be able to help add points in the main cabin consistently throughout camp.
☐ I’m willing to share a promotional project for SWC.

B. No, I believe I’ll be able to complete all these responsibilities!

C. In the event in which another co-leader goes inactive, I would first try reaching out to them and directly talking to them about their activity levels. I’ll talk to the other members of the leadership team, as well as the hosts (if needed) to plan the best step forward. If I become inactive, I’ll let my co-leaders know as soon as possible and tell them if this will affect my role; I will relinquish my leadership position if needed.

lio’s co app answers || july ’25

(oops forgot about this, one moment)

about me

hello! i’m lio, an avid booklover, rising college junior, and aspiring polymath. i am a very curious and passionate person, whose interests range from geography and worldbuilding to linguistics to infectious diseases to politics to cooking. i particularly enjoy connecting all of these fixations through writing, both fiction and nonfiction. in my free time, i enjoy such activities as reading and writing (of course), hiking, drawing and painting, and rock climbing. though i’m quite introverted in real life, online i am much more outgoing and always happy to chat!

for fun and in the hopes of sparking new connections, i like to list a few of my favorites here. my favorite books are the giver by lois lowry, in memoriam by alice winn (finished my fourth reread today!), and the locked tomb series by tamsyn muir. my favorite musical artist is lord huron, but i’ve been listening to clairo and mitski a lot lately. i’m a theatre kid (mostly on the tech side, yay spot ops!), and my favorite musical is falsettos but i also love natasha, pierre, and the great comet of 1812 and hadestown. i don’t watch a lot of tv or movies, but my favorite show is jet lag: the game (so good!! would make a fun cabin theme…) and my favorite movie is emma. (2020).

i use they/them pronouns and live in the eastern time zone (edt).

experience

july 2025 will be my sixteenth session of swc! over the past almost five years (omg), i’ve led three times, coled six times, and campered six times. additionally, i was a member of the daily team two times, a writing comp panelist and judge each once, and participated in the memory book committee and quails / sorting team in eleven sessions each. tldr: i have a lot of experience with swc, in a variety of roles.

previous sessions, in reverse chronological order:
march 2025 — journalism camper, led by cj, cd, and kit
november 2024 — poetry camper, led by maia, sarah, and crystie
july 2024 — gothic coleader, with moss, mouse, and veni
march 2024 — dystopian coleader, with mouse, kenzie, and allen
november 2023 — mystery camper, led by finley, clev, and mabel
july 2023 — lit-fi coleader, with fae
march 2023 — fantasy leader, with soki and river
november 2022 — folklore coleader, with ryann, faer, and vee
july 2022 — script leader, with fae, mayhem, and piper
march 2022 — adventure leader, with finley and cettie
november 2021 — contemporary camper, led by mech, viara, and ozzie
july 2021 — horror coleader, with pi and pie
march 2021 — sci-fi coleader, with kat and soft
november 2020 — thriller camper, led by cara, wats, and cj
july 2020 — hi-fi camper, led by soft and cj

beyond swc, i started writing for fun over ten years ago with no breaks since. for the past year, i’ve worked as a consultant for students’ writing assignments at my school. leadership experience wise, i’ve volunteered a week each summer since 2019 as a day-camp counselor, and in high school i directed several one act plays.

cabin prefs

i have no preference for my cabin beyond wanting to continue cabingo, so ideally not a genre i have been in before!

…but considering my previous cabin list, that might be a bit of an ask haha! i will consider any offers, whether i’ve been in the cabin before or not

i’d love to colead the cabin that will not win

excerpt — from “silvertongue”

vis seethed in the tower. she paced beneath jay’s perfected birds, beneath the murals they had shared hours on, beneath the rafters that on any other day would hold her laughter. the back and forth only made her more restless. her throat burned, not from screaming, not from silver, but from its disuse.
something needed to break. the world could not be perfect, still, when jay had—
vis never had trouble with control. it was a common problem, particularly for young students, who discovered they could get anything they wanted and simply took it. in the young, petulance was common, tempers were common, and tantrums of both could be catastrophic. but intention was stronger when the sea calmed and a whole choir of voices could speak as one. vis could not remember a time she did not know this. vis could not remember a time when fiery anger won out over cold intention.
but jay had never betrayed her until now. jay left; she needed a new soulmate.
the anger seemed a starling choice.
the moment she opened herself to it, everything burst at once. vis thrust the ring from her finger, how had she kept it, how had she not always seen? she clawed the birds down, tore them limb from limb. she scraped her nails across the paint, laughed unhappily when flakes fell like colored snow. her throat ached, begged for screaming, but one fact stood untouched by the anger, unfazed by her new friendship.

time dedication

throughout the month of july, i will be able to dedicate between one hour and two non-consecutive hours each day to specifically swc responsibilities, generally in the afternoon and evening. the same is true for the remainder of may and june for cabin planning. my activity will be impacted by a trip the final few days of july, but it will not completely bar me from participating.

i cannot and will not promise all of my time to swc — after all, sleep, health, and real life come first.

time management

skills
dedication, which i have both for swc and coleading, allows me to both get a lot done on a project in a short amount of time and stick with said project for longer amounts of time. i value every minute i get to spend working on swc and don’t want to “waste” any of it with poor time management.
allotment of time is something i’ve worked on a lot the past few years; i’ve strengthened my proficiency with proper allocation of my time and prioritization of my tasks. with this improvement, i am more productive even under time constraints.

shortcomings
procrastination is my largest challenge, stemming from my perfectionism. it leads to tasks taking far longer than needed, but i combat it by reminding myself that doing something imperfect is better—and a better use of my time—than doing nothing at all!
distraction goes hand in hand with both procrastination and dedication. i tend to get distracted from tasks i don’t want to do or ones that make me anxious by other, more exciting or familiar tasks, and often while doing things i am passionate about i lose track of time. recently, i have used this to my advantage, rotating through varying tasks to keep from getting bored with any one activity.

quality of leadership

one quality of leadership i greatly value is flexibility. the ability to adapt and go with the flow is important in a setting with as many variables and participants as swc. throughout the planning process and july’s session, i will be prepared for changes and to fulfill my responsibilities in the face of those changes. i will also look to keep my cabin compatible with the wants and needs of my campers and fellow leaders and not stress about “keeping up” with other cabins. previously, i’ve worked to respond to camper feedback and participation and it’s something i’d like to continue to focus on this session.

strengths in collaboration

passion — i deeply care about swc and the success of my leadership team and cabin and i value the processes and products of collaboration. this informs my every action as a team member and coleader, from working through disagreements to properly scheduling my time according to tasks.

open-mindedness — i am excitedly open to new ideas and discussion during the process of cabin planning and throughout camp. i want the cabin to reflect the work of the entire leadership team, and the campers as well, and this cannot be done without compromise and connection.

weaknesses in collaboration

communication is something that, despite valuing it greatly, i am very bad at. i overthink even the simplest of messages and can be bad at interpreting others’ emotions and sharing my own. i constantly push myself over this hurdle, but it remains a weakness.

perfectionism is a symptom of my striving to be the best. i care about every tiny detail, which can lead to me taking on more than i should, rather than allowing other team members to leave their mark. i worked on overcoming this over the past year, and furthering this work remains a goal of mine this july.

assets

creativity — my ideas are constantly flowing, for new cabin concepts and activities and storylines. i want to create a cabin full of imagination and innovation by developing these with a team.

art & design skills — hand in hand with my creativity is my proficiency with art and design — i have years of experience with both as well as the ability to design a unique look for a cabin. (plus I have access to canvapro )

experience — i’ve been in swc for over three years in a variety of roles; i have the wisdom and vision that comes with such experience, as well as the desire to share both with my cabin and leadership team.

organization & spreadsheets — thanks to experience and personal interest, i have a good understanding of how to create systems for information and statistics, and an understanding of how to apply this to swc.

atmosphere

a welcoming, inside-joke-filled environment, which adapts with camper feedback and prioritizes quality & fun over quantity.

(as an additional note, i’m open to a competitive or a chill outlook at the leaderboard and within the cabin — whichever the leader prefers!)

checkboxes, etc

✓ i will be available throughout camp to help add main cabin points
✓ i am willing to release an swc promotion project

there are no leadership responsibilities listed in the faq i cannot complete

in the case of inactive leadership, whether by myself or by another leader on my team, i will prioritize clear communication with hosts, campers, and other leaders on what is happening, as well as attempting to contact whoever is inactive. then, i’ll work with the other members of my cabin leadership team to understand what we may need — whether a replacement leader is needed.

bonus — dreamhouse

(first, an aside — i love love the barbie theme and am so excited for all the hot pink and summer vibes this session!!)

as an avid traveller, of course my dreamhouse would be one of the suitcase ones you can pack up in the click of a button! inside would be small but very cozy, with lots of bookshelves, maps, a general dark academia cartography aesthetic. it would have plenty of secret compartments for hiding surprises and a well-stocked pantry for baking.

The Realms of Music: Alana's Co-Leader App

About Me:
Hello there! I’m Alana (she/her) who is more commonly known to be a magical banana llama tyrant that resides in the b(EST) timezone. Last time I checked, I’m an ENFJ-T who’s always looking for new opportunities to learn new things and get out of my comfort zone. I love getting involved and going on adventures because I truly believe in the saying that you’ll never really know until you give it a try <3

I think if I were to ask my friends to tell me the first word that comes to mind when they think of me, I can almost guarantee you that it will be dance. It really goes without saying because dance and music are practically my life and soul. I’ve grown up with them for so long and I couldn’t even begin to imagine what my life would be like if I had never gotten into these two things. I was always an energetic kid when I was younger, and I definitely still am! I started dancing at the age of three, and since then, I have never looked back. To this day I still feel like it’s one of the best decisions I have ever made. Coming to music, it’s also something that’s been a part of my life for such a long period of time, and I hope to continue pursuing it when I get older.

Aside from dance and music, my other interests include: graphic design, participating in STEM-related activities, coding, scrapbooking, watercolor painting. Like a handful of other SWC-ers, I absolutely love reading and writing! Some of my favorites being “A Wish in the Dark”, “The War that Saved My Life”, “Song of Achilles”, “A Song Called Home”, and “I Fell in Love With Hope”. Since I typically read in these genres, my writing also tends to be in genres of Fantasy, Hi-Fi, Real-Fi — though I’m always open to experimenting with new ones!

Some other things about me
- Favorite color combo: blush pink, rose gold, black, and white (and generally pastel shades <3)
- Favorite subject: Math and Computer Science
- Favorite cuisines: Italian, Indian, Mediterranean, Thai, Mexican, Afghan, Chinese
- Go-to desserts: Cheesecakes, tarts, and cupcakes!
- Favorite ice cream flavor: Cookies n’ Cream

Previous Participation:
Nov ‘22: Naan-Fi Breadhouse
Camper (with Daisy, Birdi, and Sophie)

March ‘23: Non-Fi Fossil Dig
Leader (with Finley and Waterfall)
MBC committee member

July ‘23: War Between Two (Myth)
Leader (with Wren)
MBC Host

Nov ‘24: Script Misfits
Leader (with Recca and Indigo)
Daily Team
MBC Host

March ‘24: Trapped in a Fairytale
Leader (with Amethyst and Sienna)
Daily Team
Weekly 4: ICONs
MBC Host

July ‘24: Bi-Fi Minion Mania
Leader (with Pepper and Summer)
Polar Bear coordinator
MBC Host

Nov ‘24: Boba Tavern (Magical Realism)
Leader (with CJ and Clev)
Polar Bear executive
MBC Host + SWC Tyrant

March ‘25: Battle of the Bands (Fan-Fi)
Leader (with Pepper, Skylar, and Snowy)
Polar Bear Executive
MBC Host + SWC Tyrant

Outside of SWC, I’m always looking for new avenues to improve my leadership skills - whether be within the classroom, leading an exec team, or volunteering within the community. Being a “leader” is something that takes a lot of practice and experience. It doesn’t become a reality overnight, and you only get better by getting involved and taking chances to experiment outside of your comfort zone.

I have actively been involved in volunteering within my community (standardized tests tutoring, summer camp assistant, etc.) and I’m currently also the head of a youth committee in a non-profit organization. By getting involved in these activities, I’ve been able to encourage everyone to share their voice which has helped me grow not only as a leader, but also as a person.

Dedication:
During the months of June and July I will be finishing up school and getting ready for the summer break! June will definitely be chaotic with finals, however, all my extracurriculars are starting to wrap up so I believe that I should be able to dedicate roughly 2 - 3 hours to SWC every day.

I know this will change based on different things that come up, but I will adjust my schedule accordingly and make sure that my co-leaders are aware well in advance in order to successfully complete all of my assigned tasks on time. Currently, I do know that I will be going on a trip from July 6 - July 20, but I don’t think that would be of great hindrance to my overall activity as I will still have access to technology (the only thing changing would be timezones, though I will make it a point to notify my (co)leaders well in advance).

Above all, I understand that life > SWC which means that I will notify my (co)leaders and fellow hosts promptly if I need to take a break due to something that is impacting my life IRL or if I am going to experience any form of inactivity. Communication is definitely key in any leadership setting, and that is why I want to be transparent and ensure that both my campers and (co)leaders are aware of any plans that may limit my activity so that proactive measures can be taken.

Genres:
This session I’m looking to try something new. After quite a few sessions of leading - with all of those ups and downs along the way - I’ve decided that I want to try being a co-leader this session! Now with that in mind, I’m completely open to co-leading any genre this session, regardless of whether or not I have been a part of the cabin before. Ultimately, I’m just looking to get some new experience and work with a leadership team to bring any cabin idea to life! Adding onto this, I think I’m feeling quite open to leading TCTWNW this session as well since I’d love to take some time off this summer and enjoy the less competitive aspect of SWC. On the next slide, I do have a few cabin ideas listed in case you’re looking for something in particular, but I believe that I’m quite a flexible person.

Cabin theme ideas:
- Mystery: The Ice Kingdom
- Folklore: Vanishing Tales
- Hi-Fi: Fallen Ruins
- Tragedy: Forgotten Heir
- Fantasy: Underwater Grotto

Collaboration:
Some of my strengths in collaboration are…
- Listening to others: In group settings, I always listen to what others have to say before discussing my ideas - I may mention a few suggestions or concepts I’m hoping to flesh out here and there, but ultimately my goal is to hear what others think without feeling like they have to agree to what I’m saying.
By doing this, I hope to create a safe environment where everyone can feel comfortable sharing their ideas - when people have a fear of their ideas constantly being “shot down”, they will be less likely to share what they have to say. I’ve definitely learned this the hard way ^^’ But I now know that everyone has something valuable to contribute and it’s definitely worthwhile to hear people out and see what new perspective they can bring to the table.

- Flexibility: I find that I can manage to collaborate with most people, whether they’re a close friend or someone I haven’t really gotten along with, I always put those issues aside and ensure that it does not impact the project. A team member is a team member at the end of the day, and I want to ensure that all ideas are valued equally - I am not going to choose one thought over another because of some biases, I will make sure that all ideas are equally discussed so that a bit of each person can be included in the final project. My goal is to help everyone have a fun time, and to do that, yes, at times I’ll need to put aside my differences with people and find ways to collaborate. By showing people that what they have to say matters, I hope to make more lasting friendships with both new and old friends in the SWC community and beyond <3

Now coming to some weaknesses:
- Perfectionism: For all of my projects, I always carry a vision that I’d like to follow through with. I’ll assign tasks to people based on their interests, but I do sometimes worry that it will not be as grand as I had envisioned. Due to this, I’d often “redo” or go back and edit my group member’s work to ensure it meets all the criteria, for an assignment, for example. It was not only tedious for me to “clean up” after others, but it also undermined them, as people probably put a lot of effort into it <3 I’ve come to accept that everyone has their own way of doing things, and the outcome is not always going to end up how I envisioned - but that’s ok. Similar to how I prefer things a certain way, someone else may want it another - and as a leader, it is by job to understand and respect that ^^ (which does also include speaking out so that we can collectively solve and problems before they become bigger issues)

Assets I will bring to the leadership team:
- Organization: I believe I’m a fairly organized person, and that is a vital quality in any leadership team. Working with each other can come with its own challenges, but ensuring that everything progresses in a timely manner is even harder. I’ve found that I’m really productive when I create a breakdown or a list of some sorts with activities that I need to complete. I’ll organize these by priority and set due dates as well as reminders to keep me on track. Since leading can be quite a time consuming thing, I believe that organization is a key asset in order to succeed!

- Adaptability: As a leader it is vital to be adaptable - things are going to happen unexpectedly and there will definitely be some challenges you meet along the way. Over time I’ve learned that things may not turn out the way you had originally visioned, but that’s ok. All that matters is how you pick yourself up when things get tough, and that is exactly why I believe my skills in adaptability will be beneficial in the leadership team. Since I’m quite used to thinking quickly on my feet, whether that be with backup plans or new ideas, I feel like I will be able to remain calm when combating any challenges that we face within our team.

Time Management:
Strengths:
- Organized schedule: I love creating detailed schedules that carefully outline all the tasks that I need to do. Having this visual representation definitely helps me get started and it honestly just gives me a better idea of what I need to fit into my schedule. Although there are definitely times when I’m not able to complete stuff on time, I try my best to plan ahead to ensure that nothing gets negatively affected. In such a way, you might even say that these to-do lists just help me make sure that I don’t miss or overlook anything I previously set out to do

- Thinking quickly on my feet: Life is so unexpected and things happen all the time, whether we want them or not. I’ve come to learn there’s only so much you can do to stay prepared, which is why I value my ability to adapt and think quickly on my feet. When working on any project, I like to leave all the brainstormed ideas together just in case a backup needs to come in place. In addition to the to-do lists mentioned above, I plan ahead, keeping a few extra days before the deadline just in case anything unexpected delays my progress (or that of the group).

Weaknesses:
- Taking on too much: I’m often conscious about the amount of work and time I’m spending in group settings. This normally comes with the thought of believing that others have expectations for me, when in reality I’m doing more than enough. This causes me to take on more than I can handle simply for the fear of being seen as someone who does not contribute to the overall project. Whether it be for a presentation or an executive club motion, I like to stay involved (which is a great thing), but oftentimes it leads to additional unwanted panic that I wouldn’t of had to deal with in the first place.

- Need for perfection (prioritization): This kind of goes hand in hand with taking too much - as a proud perfectionist, I kind of have a vision for how I’d like everything to be. However, sometimes these visions are very unrealistic. Even for the simplest things, I tend to overcomplicate things from time to time, which isn’t really the best idea. Due to this, I sometimes turn even the simplest tasks into these huge projects, which cause me to stress out over something that might not matter as much. I have a high standard for myself and I know that I have the ability to reach those goals. However sometimes, these “goals” become too unrealistic and end up placing a lot of unnecessary pressure on myself.

One Word to Describe:
I believe that a quality I embody is resilience - life is an adventure and unexpected things happen from time to time, but all that really matters is that you’re able to pick yourself up again and keep fighting for the things you believe in. Things don’t always go as planned in leadership settings and people (including myself) will make mistakes, but it’s really important to understand that that’s ok. No one always succeeds - there is always room for improvement and mistakes from time to time help us realize that. Everyone should realize that even experienced leaders make mistakes, and that’s completely fine. The only important thing is that they don’t try to hide it, but use it as a teachable moment to improve for the future.

As a (co)leader this session I will embody this trait by pushing through even when things get hard and understand that it’s ok if things don’t work out the first time. Whether it be issues with executing the storyline or inactivity problems, I will ensure that I preserve and show resilience by never giving up because there is always another way! I know that everyone makes mistakes, but honestly, they’re some of the best teachable moments. By reflecting on the past and knowing where I can improve, I hope to foster a positive leadership team where we can make a lot of fun, and chaotic memories!

Cabin Atmosphere:
Through cabin bonding and activities, campers will get the chance to work through a carefully-curated storyline, one that is sure to bring lasting memories and friendships. (173 characters)

Checklist:
✓ I will be available to help add points in the main cabin consistently throughout camp
✓ I’m willing to share a promotional project for SWC

B. No, I can complete all of the (co)leader responsibilities that have been listed in the FAQ.

C. I understand the time dedication that leading requires and the responsibility that comes with being a leader in SWC. Knowing this, in the event I ever have to go inactive for whatever reason, I will contact my (co)leaders and discuss with the hosts as to what appropriate accommodations can be made to ensure that everything continues running as smoothly as possible. Alternatively, if one of my (co)leaders were to go inactive, I would try contacting them via profile comments and other places throughout Scratch. If I still don’t hear a response from them, I will discuss with the other hosts and consult my (co)leaders to decide what next steps should be taken.

first off, your app was really good! although you don’t need me to tell you that, all your offers speak for themselves—congrats :starstruck:
so, i’m not going to dwell on what you did well, i’ll just point out what parts of your answers could be improved on <33 it’s also important to note that these are just things that i’ve noticed, so this critique won’t be representative of the whole host team’s thoughts!

Fanfiction! In all my sessions, I’ve never been part of this cabin even once, and I DESPERATELY want to.

for cabin preferences, i always like to see whether applicants have any pre-planned cabin ideas—this shows that they’ve been thinking ahead, and starting off with a clear idea always makes the cabin planning process far smoother. there’s been a fairly recent trend in applications of explaining a couple of pre-planned ideas as part of the cabin preferences question, which is always cool to see—although personally, i don’t do this, i just mention that i have a pre-planned idea for a certain genre without explaining the specifics. either way, it’s always good to see if you have a pre-planned loose idea, whether you explain it in detail or not—although this isn’t something that will make or break getting the leader position, just a recommendation <3

Other than that, I’m pretty sure I’ll be able to dedicate adequate time to adding points and words in my cabin, as well as participate in different dailies and weeklies.

you only mention adding points/words and participating in weeklies—you don’t mention having time for cabin planning, enacting the cabin’s storyline, or interacting with campers, which are arguably much more important than adding points/words and writing dailies/weeklies. this leads me to feel quite iffy on what you’d prioritise as a cabin leader.
I know this is a bit nitpicky, but when we discuss apps that are really close in terms of quality, it can and, sometimes does, come down to nitpicky things such as this that determine who gets the last few leader positions.
secondly, “adequate time” sounds a bit too vague for my liking—i like to see specific time dedication, such as “I can dedicate x amount of hours to swc per day/week”

Procrastination is probably the world‘s greatest quality, and I am certainly not an exception. If I get that sudden burst of coffee and extra motivation, I’m sure to get things done ahead of time, but usually, I’m always a few minutes behind. Instead of doing the task, I spend an extra five minutes debating about the common phrase, Do I REALLYYYYYY have to do it, like, RIGHT NOW?

i’d like to see specific ways you can manage procrastination. it’s always important to discuss how you intend to combat your weakness for the time management and collaboration questions, and it’s a bit too vague here

Even though I’m not the most punctual, I still get things done. I’m often the first one to get my homework, assignments, and projects done in class (which is a very surprising fact even to me,) and I tend to actually do things when somebody isn’t constantly pestering me to do them. Time management was something I struggled with for a long time, but it’s started to become much easier for me to actually remember what I have to start or finish, and I’m honestly really proud of that.

your time management question could’ve been elaborated on further. outstanding applications usually have strong, fleshed-out, and specific answers for the strengths and weakness in time management and collab questions

Leadership Quality

your answer for the one quality question kind of reads more like an answer to the collaboration question. it’s a cool idea to include more than one leadership quality, but i think it might have been more beneficial to stick to the question in this case—have one quality that you examine in a lot of depth. also, i would’ve liked to have seen your connection to these qualities (such as how you embody them) in a bit more depth.

I want to achieve a cabin atmosphere where everybody feels like they’re at home. I remember my first session where I was a replacement camper, and I felt super nervous because I hadn’t talked to so many people online before. I had gotten sorted into Thriller, and that first cabin was something I could never forget. The way they made me feel so safe is a feeling I cannot help but crave, and I wish to make a cabin where even campers from other cabins feel happy (totally not so that we can steal their secrets what are you talking about?)

Apart from being safe and content, I want a joyous environment! In my introduction, I already said I was the stereotypical class clown, and so laughing is like second nature to me. A cabin without laughter, smiles, and inside jokes, isn’t quite a cabin. I’d want to make each member of my cabin smile even on their worst days, with the most horrible dad jokes, and the most despicable punch lines. I want to be the one people can think of with memories of joy and puns, and I want my cabin to be exactly like that too!

this is really really good!! however, you haven’t explained your cabin atmosphere in less than 200 words, like you’d see in the camper sign-ups desc (which the question asked you to do)—ideally, you need to have both an in-depth version (which you did really well) and the concise version. remember to answer all parts of the question!

I think I’ve mentioned my strong suit of making people cackle quite enough. Let’s move on to some other ones.

I’m not new to leading. I’m always one to volunteer to be the leader of the group project, or the one to manage programs and shows. Leadership comes easily to me, and I can’t remember a grade where I haven’t led a minimum of five things. I promise I’m not showing off, and it’s genuinely something I’m very proud of. I will always be the one to step up, and I love that about myself.

I’m VERY creative, like anybody in SWC is. I come up with new ideas from the top of my head. Often I’ve helped my friends with their novels and writing slumps, just after they’ve given me the main idea of their story. I’m always thinking (like I physically can’t stop), and because my brain is constantly buzzing, it’s easy for me to spit out random ideas. Some of them are good and some of them are bad. It depends on the aspect you see them from, really.

personally, I believe the collaboration question is the most important! i’d like to have seen more elaboration here—how does your creativity affect collaboration? what does that mean for working in a team?
i also feel a bit iffy about the strengths you’ve chose—the first paragraph would almost be more suited to the ‘past participation ‘ question, while the second would be more suited to the ‘assets’ part of the collab question. this means this part of your answer isn’t quite strong enough, in my opinion.

I also tend to get sidetracked sometimes. If we’re talking about something, I’ll think about something else that relates to that and ask about that instead. Sometimes when my friends speak, I accidentally zone out at something in the distance and start talking about that instead. Sometimes I don’t even realise I do it, and for that I’m sorry. I also tend to avoid looking at messes so I don’t have to clean them up. While I’m writing this, my drawer is currently filthy, and I’ve been putting off cleaning it since january. This sometimes applies for me when I look at dailies and weeklies- I put them off till the last five minutes, when I manage to complete the task with the low cost of an hour of sanity.

i like that this was specific! however, similarly to what I mentioned about your time management question, i’d like to see how you can manage these weaknesses.

also, you don’t have clear assets—the collaboration question asks for assets too, not just strengths and weaknesses! not including assets is a really common mistake we see—while this doesn’t immediately disqualify people, it shows they haven’t read/answered the question properly, which always lessens their chances.

that’s it for critique—you did everything else really well! enjoy co-leading dystopian, and I wish you the best of luck for future applications <33

thank you swc!

hey everyone! this is a more official announcement of my stepping down from hosting, now that we’ve concluded the march 2025 session.

i first joined swc in march 2020, just weeks before the pandemic shutdown, and it absolutely changed my life. i have met some of the most incredible people ever, gotten to work on awesome projects, and had so much fun. (and gotten pretty darn good at sorting ;) my spreadsheet skills have definitely leveled up since 2020!) since i started i’ve done sixteen sessions and led or co-led eight cabins. i’ve been on the host team since i was asked (on april fool’s day! but fortunately it wasn’t a joke) in 2022 - nine sessions, or three years. which sounds so crazy.

and in over five years of swc, have i become the best writer in the world? absolutely not - i’ve improved, but i’ve gained much more than pretty prose. swc has taught me about leadership, collaboration, and communication, and it always gave me an opportunity to grow. plus, you could say it’s really been about the friends i made along the way.

i regret not being more present in the community in recent sessions and getting to know more of you! it’s wonderful to see it thriving though <3 if we’ve never talked, i’m sorry - but chances are i still recognize your username from a sort or two. please feel free to come say hi anytime :)

it’s hard to believe i’m finally stepping away from this. nothing in my life has had an effect on me quite like swc - i hope all of you get to experience that here :) i’ll still be around sometimes, i may or may not keep participating in sessions but i will definitely come check my messages every so often!

biggest thanks to those i've hosted with: linden, bakie, birdi, starr, luna, sun, alba, cara, moonlit, moss, alana, rockie, ave. all of you have been huge inspirations for me and i wouldn't trade that experience for the world.

thank you to everyone i’ve led with or worked with in another way, all of my cabin leaders and my campers, and just the entire community. i’m so incredibly grateful, more than i could ever express, for this opportunity. it has been a joy to host swc and watch it grow and change over the years and i can’t wait to see where it goes in the future <3 looking forward to my ascension into ghosthood!

lots of love,
robin

p.s. just punched the numbers and i've spent nearly a third of my life in SWC. that's kind of wild but i'll take it

wow

THIS IS THE WRONG MEGATHREAD I'M SO SORRY IGNORE THIS-

Missy's Leader App Nov 25

ABOUT ME:
Hi! My nickname is Missy, she/her, and I am super excited about this leader app! So, I am a christian teen, and a massive bookworm. I love reading, and writing (obviously, otherwise I wouldn’t be here.) Other interests of mine are music, musicals and travelling. I have played many instruments over my life, including piano, clarinet and guitar. I also love to sing. I love musicals, some of my favourites are EPIC: the musical, Hamilton, SIX, and Mean Girls the musical. I love travelling and seeing different cultures, which I sadly don’t do heaps. I live in Australia, (my time zone being Australian Eastern Standard Time) and have been to Thailand a few times and Vanuatu a couple of times. I am hoping to travel more as I get older.

PREVIOUS PARTICIPATION:
I have been a camper for 5 SWC sessions. In March24 I was in Fantasy, July24 I was in Dystopian, Nov24 I was in Apocalyptic, Mar25 I was in Adventure, and July25 I was in Fantasy. Outside of scratch, I write short stories, and I am working on a novel currently. At school, I have been a school leader twice. Once in primary school and again as a junior high school captain. When I had these roles, the jobs included organising events for the school, raising money and just helping out with other things, like a transition day for the new kids coming to high school. I am also an oldest child with 3 younger siblings. I’m often left in charge and have to look after them when our parents aren’t home for the day. Being the oldest child has me step up and become more responsible.

CABIN PREFERENCES:
I would be happy in any cabin, but I had an idea for a Historical Fiction cabin, where the campers would be transported back in time to King Henry VIII. But they used a time machine and it broke once they got to the time. They would have to work with the six wives to put the time machine back together again, and be able to travel back to their time.
I would not like to lead the cabin that will not win. This is simply due to the fact that I am a competitive person, and absolutely enjoy the thrill of the competition.

TIME DEDICATION:
For SWC I will be able to dedicate at least an hour a day on weekdays, and most likely more. On the weekends, I will be able to spend at least 3 hours on SWC a day. I have no planned trips or anything that could affect my not being able to participate and lead during SWC. I have school for both of the two months, so time will be put into my school work but I should be pretty active during tho month leading up to it and during the month of November.

TIME MANAGEMENT:
I will be completely honest, I am not the best time manager. I am a procrastinator. I love to put everything off until the last second.
The difference with SWC though, is that I love SWC. I am always so active during the month and always do things like the weeklys really quickly (or as quick as a procrastinator can.) SWC is super fun, meaning that I don’t procrastinate it that much at all.
I am a really dependable person though, and if I have said that I will do something, I will do it unless I am forced to stop. I am determined, but sometimes you cant always do it. Things come up, and you can’t help that, but I will always try to the best of my ability.
I am trying to work on my time management skills and improve them.

COLLABORATION & ASSETS:
Like previously mentioned, I am dependable and determined. I will do whatever I can to ensure whatever needs doing, happens.
I am really friendly and am a massive extrovert. I have no problems talking to strangers (both online and irl) and I am always trying to welcome people, whether its into my friend group or into a group project at school.
One of my weaknesses, is that I can be impatient. I can start getting annoyed when things take too long to happen. But I have learned to control that anger by - as previously mentioned - being the eldest sibling. I get impatient a lot, but I have learned to control my annoyance and anger because otherwise I would just end up in trouble constantly (after like yelling at them or something.)

REASON FOR APPLYING:
My reason for applying as a leader this session, is because I love Scratch Writing Camp and have participated in it for five sessions now. I also love organising things, like any get togethers with friends or any of my younger sisters birthdays, I am always the one organising it. I feel like leading a cabin in Scratch Writing Camp would be a great way for me to experience a new and perhaps more exciting side of Scratch Writing Camp.
I am also a creative person, and would love to bring some creativity to the Scratch Writing Camp Cabins.

CABIN ATMOSPHERE:
I must admit that I am a competitive person. I love the challenge and trying to win. But I never force people into working hard or trying to win. I like to encourage people to do the best they can.

CHECKBOXES:
Yes, I will be available to help add points in the main cabin consistently throughout camp.
Yes, I am willing to share a promotional project for SWC.
There are no leadership responsibilities that I cannot complete.
In the case of an inactive leadership. I will potentially create different studios for word counting and will try and be more active due to the inactivity.
If I am the inactive leader, I will be sure to let the other leaders know why and my expected return. This will give them some time to prepare and will help them organise the cabin to run more smoothly.

hii