Next up in our Meet the Counselor series is Gerard Cullen, joining us all the way from the small village of Rhode in Ireland—a place full of community spirit and a big love for sport. He’s excited to spend the summer getting to know campers, building connections, and being part of all the fun. He’s ready to jump into camp life and make it an unforgettable summer.
Tell us a little about your hometown, describing it for those who are likely never to have been there before. If you have out-of-town visitors, where do you take them?
Rhode is a small village with a few pubs, church, two shops, a playground and a GAA pitch. Gaelic football is big in Rhode as well have a highly successful football team. We rarely get out of town visitors as it is a small, positive and tight community where nearly everyone knows one another.
What do you do for work/studies?
I am in college in Maynooth university. I am studying an arts degree doing Irish and Sociology. I am currently in my second year out of three with the plan of doing a masters in primary teaching after I get my degree. On the weekends during college and time off I have a part time job. I work in my local Centra shop working weekends and during the time off I have for college.
What would campers be surprised to learn about you?
That my brother has dyslexia and that instead of looking from the perspective of dyslexia being a disadvantage, instead it can be used as a superpower.
What is an experience you're looking forward to this summer?
An experience I look forward to is creating and developing connections within camp between campers and other staff members. I am hoping that after camp, I can do some travelling and explore the beauty of the American countryside and towns.
What is the best piece of advice you've ever received?
Nothing changes if you don't. Meaning that if you want to make a change in your life, if you are not willing to put the effort in to make that change, then it will never happen.
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go? What would you do? Who would you go with?
I would go to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. To see the beaches, carnivals and the Christ the Redeemer statue. Ideally it would be nice to travel with friends from home but if not, I would have no problem if I was to go by myself.
Ask me about the time I... solo travelled to Morocco for three weeks.
What advice would you give a camper who’s nervous about their first day?
That it is perfectly normal to feel nervous about their first day trying something new. Every other camper is probably feeling the exact same as you are. I was nervous flying over to America too. You are surrounded by great and helpful people and that everything will be fine.
If you were to invite three people (dead or alive, real or characters) to a dinner party, who would you invite?
Lionel Messi, Michael Jordan, Shane Lowry
What's one of your biggest passions that you hope to share with the campers and staff at Camp Spring Creek?
That I played many different sports as I was younger but the positive impact sport had on me mentally and physically and socially.
