By Nick Sears, Den of 2016
The following was delivered as the Den Remarks by Nick Sears on Mrs. Holt’s Day, 2016:
Rather than simply recount the Den’s activities this year, I thought I would instead offer some advice to the younger dorms on how to make the most of Mowglis and become a true Mowglis Man.
1. Find Good Friends.
There are many things you can do here at Mowglis on your own. You can earn Ribbons, make Squads, and become a real Mowglis Man. But these things accomplished alone will never compare to the experience you will have when working with your friends.
This summer, there were Denites on both the Gopher and Mt. Washington Squads. I can tell you from personal experience that if I hadn’t had some of my best friends on that Washington Squad trip, it would not have been as memorable.
I earned my Maroon Ribbon this summer. I never would have been able to do it if it hadn’t been for some of my best friends working alongside me in the same industry. I would like to thank Nathan, Kurt, Emiliano, and Andrés for that.
2. Do What You Want.
Everybody leaves a legacy here at Camp. Whether it be your name on a Racing Crew plaque, or your name on a Howl, make it what you want. At Camp, you call the shots. Make your legacy as large or as small as you want it to be.
3. Find Your Passion.
We had a very passionate Den this year. We had rowers on both the Blue and Red Racing Crews. We had men on both Squads. And we earned many different Ribbons, including Axemanship, Tennis, Drama, Riflery, Crew, and Archery. This relates to doing what you want, because in order to truly master anything, you have to be passionate about it.
4. Be a Gentleman.
This is one of the most crucial aspects of being a Mowglis Man. Everyone in our dorm exhibited the qualities of a gentleman (though I confess, we all did have our moments).
5. Have Fun.
This relates to doing what you want. If you’re just being productive here, while not having fun, you’re not doing the right thing. Figure out how to make the best of your time, but remember, “The summer’s just for fun, boys!”
6. Try New Things.
Everyone has a comfort zone. Regardless of how large or small your comfort zone is, you should be able to break out and try new things. I never rowed Crew until I came here, and I don’t think I would ever have tried it if it weren’t for Camp.
7. Know When to Stop.
This one is pretty self-explanatory. I confess that our dorm wasn’t very good at this.
8. Find Something Good to Do Every Day.
Whether it is helping a friend fold his sheets and blankets in the morning, or sweeping the writing porch during clean-up when no one else will, a little will go a long way.
9. Keep in Touch with Camp Friends.
I’ve talked recently with many alumni about my graduation from Mowglis. They said that the biggest mistake that they made as a Camper was that they didn’t stay in touch with their dorm mates. Trust me, everyone in Cubs through Panther, and even my fellow Denites, I implore you to stay in touch with one another in the off-season. You’ll be thankful that you did.
10. Plan Ahead and Prepare.
“Leave No Trace” is an important part of Camping here at Mowglis, and a very useful principle in life in general; leaving no trace requires forethought and preparation. Learning to plan ahead and to prepare will keep you out of bad situations and make you into a true Mowglis Man.
After spending seven weeks and several summers with these guys, I am truly proud to be a member of the Den of 2016. I am and will be eternally thankful to have shared my experiences with my dorm mates. I have spent a lot of my life here, and I love these guys. They are my brothers!
