As I worked for hours and hours at my job, sweeping the floor with the small, red-handled broom, the rain came. Without hesitation, the lifeguard team sprung into action. We went as fast as we could – our priority was getting kids to safety and reaching shelter ourselves. As lightning struck, the pool was cleared and we were safe. A counselor had taken the kids to the main lodge where they would wait for the storm to end. This was easy for us – we had spent time practicing and working on this plan with each other.

As I headed to the guard room, the counselor for this group tensed up near the door. He stood shaking, and talked frantically to the other lifeguards.

“I’m not sure where he could have gone, the outside door to the bathroom was locked!”

“What’s wrong?” I asked as I enter the room.

“We can’t find a camper.”

“Maybe he’s still in the bathroom,” I reasoned. “He surely couldn’t have run that far.”

“He’s not there,” Rafael, a fellow lifeguard, said as he entered the room. “Just checked.”

Oreo, the head lifeguard at the time, sprung off his chair and ran outside. I quickly followed him out into the storm. Rafael and Narwhal caught up as we exited the pool deck and headed into the nearby woods.

Just then, a call on the walkie-talkie: “Break to all staff, make your way to the storm shelter, there is a tornado warning in the area.”

We froze – glancing at each other. We needed to keep searching.

The three of us continued to the Junior Village, the area of camp where the kids’ cabins were. We found another group of counselors talking and discussing the procedure for dangerous weather. We ran up to them.

“We need help,” I said to the group, “We can’t find a camper.”

Immediately, everyone jumped up and began looking. We split up between the woods and the village. Our boss approached and started helping us search each cabin. He seemed confident and calm, as he normally does.

I broke off, alone. I moved to the lake as the wind ripped branches from the trees. I entered the small cabin for staff, hoping the camper was hiding in there. No luck. I sprinted back to the main lodge to meet up with the group. As I ran, I heard the wail of a siren coming over the lake.

As I returned to the group, we heard noises from the radio.

Our boss took the radio from his backpack.

“We’ve found him.”

The mood changed. Everyone returned to the main lodge and there, we greeted the missing camper happily. We were all smiling ear-to-ear, despite the dark sky looming over us.

I wasn’t the hero of the story. I wasn’t even the main character. I did barely anything to help! So what? Who cares?

When I was on duty, I wasn’t the head guard, but I followed orders when instructed to shut the pool down. When I learned we were missing a camper, I wasn’t the first to bravely run out into the storm, but I took my part supporting the leader. As they took a risk, I followed, taking the same chance. I never wavered. I never doubted myself. I knew the task at hand, and I committed to it. I worked with people, and I worked for people.

This story could have been different. I could have been the only one to walk out in the dangerous weather and save the day, but that’s not how the world works. Without a team, we are worthless. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. Teamwork is what sets me apart.

I work with people.

I work for people.