about me

Greetings! I’m Cae, your friendly chaotic neighborhood bibliophile with too many interests and not enough time. Of my many interests, a few I am particularly enthusiastic about are literature (both reading and writing it), arts of all kinds, sciences (especially biochemistry), maths, languages and etymology(!!), politics, philosophy, and, as you might guess from the theme of this application, architecture. In my seldom found free time, I enjoy such activities as reading and writing (of course), rock-climbing, playing the pipe organ, expanding my vocabulary, listening to (and crying about) Falsettos and my other favorite musicals, and traveling. I am chaotic good (I hope) and generally prefer fiction to reality. Though I am quite introverted in real life, I am less so online.

Currently, I am reading “The Space Between Worlds” by Micaiah Johnson and rereading Hank Green’s “An Absolutely Remarkable Thing.” A few of my favorite books include “Carry On” by Rainbow Rowell, “1984” by George Orwell, and “The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue” by Mackenzi Lee.

Timezone-wise, I’m on EDT with New York and Havana. Pronoun-wise, I use they/them.

previous experience

This will be my fourth session of SWC! I previously participated as a camper in July and November of 2020 in Historical Fiction and Thriller Cabins respectively. Most recently, in March 2021, I was a co-leader assistant overseer in the Science Fiction Cabin Colony.

genres

Usually, my writing falls under either science fiction or fantasy (or both!), but recently I have been dabbling in literary fiction, historical fiction, and even realistic fiction.

excerpt

I never meant for this to happen. My mother, she used to tell me my life would take its own path. She would tell me the stories of our heroes, their songs unsung by mortals.
My mother was beautiful, her voice filled with the sounds of birds and the sweetness of honey. And she never judged me. She was perfect.
Only I knew that, and I betrayed her.
Now as I sit at her body, mutilated by the demon, my husband, Perseus, and by the children born of her only in death. I see her in truth for the first time. I never wanted my vision, it was not something I was in need of. And seeing her, without her head, without the snakes upon it who kissed me softly each night, makes me want to die.
I never should have betrayed her.
I do not know why I did what I did. I suppose I wanted to belong in the world that cast me out, and to belong in the only way I really could. Blindness was a curse, just as my mother’s ailment was, but just as hers could be used to get rid of terrible monsters, mine could be used to see what mortals could not.
I saw her, they told me to. They told me to find how she could be defeated, and I would be given whatever I liked. I cannot say why I did it. I truly do not know.
Maybe it was the touch of the cold stone of my mother’s victims. Maybe it was Perseus’ kind voice when he first found me. Maybe it was a feeling that it was my destiny. Perhaps all three.
Regret fills me, and I cannot bear the feeling of this cave any longer. I leave, I leave my home and my mother. I leave with him, her killer, my husband.
I weep.

activities in july

While I will be free (and very active) for the majority of the month of July, I will be at the beach from the third through the tenth. This will make me less active, though it will not entirely prevent me from writing or being online. Other than that, I have nothing planned at the moment and will be very active throughout the month.

why me

To start, I am passionate about and dedicated to both writing and camp. Because of this, I am willing to help campers, in any cabin, with any questions or problems they may have. I want everyone to have the best experience with camp possible.

Second, I am active. Very active. This allows me to help with concerns quickly and grow community and connections within my cabin often.

Thirdly, I have experience, both with camp and leading in other places. In the largest session of SWC yet, I co-led the Science Fiction Colony (and we got sixth place!!). Outside of camp, I have had a lot of experience leading——as president of my middle school’s honor society, as a counselor at a day camp, and as a director.

In conclusion, if you want a passionate, active, experienced co-leader, I am a great choice.

why i want to co-lead

Of the very many reasons I’d like to be a co-leader, the main is my love for both writing and SWC. Camp has really changed my life——it’s given me friends, motivation, and wonderful experiences I could never get elsewhere——and I want the opportunity to help give the same gifts I received to young aspiring authors. A few of the other reasons include the marvelous community of (co)hosts and (co)leaders and, of course, my Slytherin ambition the opportunity to make new memories, like the ones from my past sessions.

understanding

I understand that co-leaders are expected to be active in their cabins, as well as
encourage and help their (and all) campers with questions and concerns. Additionally, I understand that they are an important part of camp and, without them, SWC would not be what it is.

tick boxes

(check!) I will be active in my cabin at least five (but more like seven) days a week!

(check!) I am more than happy to share a promo for SWC on my main account in June!

(check!) I am dedicated to my writing, and will write at least 5k (but hopefully much more than that) words in July!