http://efy.byu.edu

Especially For Youth

Counselor

May - July 2019 • Provo, UT

What I liked

I LOVED getting to connect with people every single day and be outdoors. I loved teaching and helping others. It is a very wholesome and energetic environment.

What I wish was different

I wish we would have been able to get more sleep throughout the week as counselors

Advice

Be prepared to walk a lot and be outside a lot- it can be a physically taxing job but it is SO worth it.
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Building Counselor

May - August 2019 • Provo, UT

What I liked

I loved being able to help mentor other counselors and see behind the scenes of the program.

What I wish was different

I wish the program was not all time-consuming.

Advice

I would recommend anyone who would like leadership opportunities.
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Efy counselor

June - August 2019 • Provo, UT

What I liked

Helping youth by sharing the gospel of Jesus christ with them

What I wish was different

Worked longer with them

Advice

One of the best choices you'll ever make
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EFY (Especially For Youth) Counselor

May - August 2019 • Provo, UT

What I liked

It gave me an opportunity to help youth to build their faith, establish friendships, and discover their potential. It was the best job I could have asked for. Even though the summer was spent serving others, I gained so much strength myself. Most of the time, I forgot it was a job because it was so much fun! Halfway through the summer I told myself that I would continue doing my job even if I never got paid again, just because I loved it so much!

What I wish was different

I wish I would have had a little more free time during my job. We were contracted to work from Sunday evening to Saturday morning so I didn't have a lot of social interaction outside of work.

Advice

I would say that being a counselor for youth prepared me for any other professional career. I learned skills in public speaking, coordinating and planning with others, executing directions in a timely manner, and working 16 hour days without losing enthusiasm.
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Especially For Youth Counselor

May 2019 • Provo, UT

What I liked

I love working with the youth and being in a spiritually uplifting environment, as well as having a ton of fun during all of the activities, games, and dances.

What I wish was different

I wish I had worked more weeks throughout the summer.

Advice

Keep a positive attitude the entire time and make it the best experience for the youth. When you focus on the youth, it makes your experience a million times more amazing than it already is and it is the most rewarding experience.
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Especially For Youth Counselor

June - July 2019 • Provo, UT

What I liked

Teaching youth the gospel

What I wish was different

Prepared more to not be so tired all the time

Advice

Have an open heart to your youth and teach and love them like you would your family
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Youth Counselor

May - August 2019 • Provo, UT

What I liked

I loved working with youth and with other people my age in the same life circumstance. It was super awesome to be with a bunch of other young adults with the same standards, all encouraging and helping one another to fulfill our duties. It was a very fun environment and I would recommend it to many--not all, because it is a lot of work that not everyone is willing to put in.

What I wish was different

I wish the time-off schedule had been arranged a bit differently. Some people had to stay up for night-watch and only got minimal time-off on that day, meanwhile other people on that same day had up to 5 hours of time-off.

Advice

Roll with it! Just do your best effort to help youth and counselors in that situation, consult with your co-counselor, and just go for it. There isn't exactly a right solution in every instance, except to communicate communicate communicate. If you are doing that, everything will turn our just fine.
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Summer Camp Counselor

May - August 2019 • Provo, UT

What I liked

I liked having a meaningful experience and the ability to positively affect other people.

What I wish was different

Advice

Be prepared to work long hard hours.
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Especially for Youth Counselor

May - August 2019 • Provo, UT

What I liked

I loved the environment, the guidelines/rules, and my coworkers. I also loved working with youth and helping to gain a greater testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It reminded me of my mission and helped me to develop more love and charity. It has had a huge impact on my life, as well as all the amazing people I met. It helped me feel purposeful and that I was making a difference.

What I wish was different

I wish we would have had more workshops and interactive classes rather than 4 hours a day of traditional classes where the youth sat still the entire time. They always became rowdy by the last class.

Advice

The advice I would give is to do all you can to develop charity and be obedient to the rules. Those things will help you to have the spirit with you and have the greatest success with the youth as well as with your own personal growth. Also, the importance of being yourself and being confident in your talents and abilities. It’s huge when your youth see you happy and confident in yourself, your testimony, and them as well. That makes a good role model. Also being genuine goes a long way in helping your kids and coworkers trust you and take your council.
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Youth counselor

May - August 2019 • Provo, UT

What I liked

The managers were kind and connected to the staff, and the overall environment was friendly and supportive.

What I wish was different

The season was so short! It was hard to leave

Advice

Never be afraid to ask questions, coworkers and bosses are always willing to help the best they can and help you become your best self!
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EFY Health Counselor

June - August 2019 • Provo, UT

What I liked

It was a resume builder.

What I wish was different

Better/ more clear training

Advice

Take quality time off while on breaks to separate the job from your sense of self.
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EFY Counselor

June - August 2019 • Provo, UT

What I liked

I loved being an instrument in the hands of God to teach his children the joy of loving the gospel! The kids looked up to me so much and I enjoyed being an example to them.

What I wish was different

I loved everything about my job! It was an exhausting job but I wouldn’t change anything about it!

Advice

When we have a meaningful why behind our jobs it does not matter how much you make, you will make a difference in the lives of those you interact with.
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Counselor

May 2017 - August 2019 • Provo, UT

What I liked

Working as a counselor was a great experience both personally and professionally. If you are looking for a job that requires skills that can look good on any job application, this is a great opportunity. It requires confidence, organization, adaptability and good interpersonal skills among other things. It was also a great way to make some amazing friends and have a lot of fun over the summer.

What I wish was different

Sometimes hiring and receiving contracts can be a little slow because there is a lot going on logistically in the office. They receive thousands of applicants, and they have to organize where to put hundreds of counselors while following every state's various laws. You can always wish that it would be faster, but they try and improve the system every year to make it better and more efficient.

Advice

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Building Counselor

May - August 2019 • Provo, UT

What I liked

This job allowed me to develop professional and leadership skills in an enjoyable and challenging context.

What I wish was different

There were a handful of interpersonal problems at the beginning of the summer that we worked out.

Advice

Love everyone that you work with, both youth and counselors!
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Especially For Youth Councilor

May - August 2019 • Provo, UT

What I liked

Being an EFY (FSY) councilor had been an incredible experience. The people you work with are awesome and you forget you are being paid half the time. It’s definitely hard work sometimes, but it is worth it to see the kids grow.

What I wish was different

I wish I had been able to work more weeks. The more weeks you are willing to work the more likely you are to travel to other states.

Advice

If you work the entire summer it will be worth the money.
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Camp Cou

April - July 2019 • Provo, UT

What I liked

EFY was a great experience to work with youth! You got free food & housing for the weeks you worked which was also a huge bonus!!

What I wish was different

Advice

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Camp Counselor

May - August 2019 • Provo, UT

What I liked

I loved imteractkng with people and that I was treated like I was a valuable employee.

What I wish was different

The hours were very long and I didn’t get much sleep, some days I was working from 6:30 AM till midnight.

Advice

It’s not for everyone, but if you like working with teenagers and if you’re well-disciplines, this is an amazing job!
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Counselor

May - July 2019 • Santa Barbara, CA

What I liked

EFY (Especially For Youth) was like going on another mission. I was able to spend all day, nearly every day of the summer, helping teenagers come closer to Christ. It helped me build my personal testimony and leadership skills more than I would have been able to in three months anywhere else.

What I wish was different

Being a counselor for EFY meant taking the risk of paying for my own flight and missing classes for an interview in Utah, even when I was still at school in Hawaii. Because I felt so prompted that it was the right thing to do, I was willing to take that risk. But after all the costs of flights to get to and from Hawaii for this job, it's clear that I didn't do it for the money! If I hadn't felt such a strong prompting, I don't think I would have gone for the job because of this.

Advice

If you ever have the chance to be a youth counselor for any kind of camp, DO IT! Being a youth counselor helps you grow in ways that will build your leadership skills to help you improve in any career you are taking on in the future. Being an EFY counselor was proof to me that the best way to learn is by teaching.
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Especially For Youth Counselor

May - August 2019 • Provo, UT

What I liked

I loved my coworkers and the youth that I had the opportunity to work with. I loved what the job entailed and the purpose behind this job. I loved the places that I got to travel and the experiences I agained from this job.

What I wish was different

I wish I would have worked even more weekly sessions.

Advice

Focus on the youth you are serving and don’t focus on yourself. Make the most of every situation and enjoy your job. Work hard and you will see the rewards that come from your hard work and effort.
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Hiring Office Coordinator

October 2018 • Provo, UT

What I liked

The administrators and other office staff are amazing and it is a great work environment. I also loved how, with a major change to the program, I was able to work with other office coordinators to improve and modify the hiring process for the next year.

What I wish was different

I wish I had been more involved in making major decisions, but as a student employee I am not in the office at all times.

Advice

I would go in with a willingness to listen and learn. I would also be confident in suggesting ideas and improvements to the process.
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