What it Was Like Going to Day Camp with John Krasinski from The Office

When you are young, you never know if the person standing next you is going is going to be your average Joe Shmo when they grow up, or if they are going to be the next president of the US, or maybe even a famous actor. Well, in my case John Krasinski, who is best known for his leading role in the hit series "The Office" was a camp counselor at my day camp when I attended as a 12 year old. At Camp Chickami, he happened to be the counselor of the 12 year old boys, which often did activities with my group during the week.

I remember John Krasinski being one of the funniest people I have ever met. He had a way of making the entire camp laugh in the afternoon assemblies, and was really good at getting all of the kids to get along. He was only 16 himself, but he was a great counselor to a group of boys just a few years younger than he was. He was great at coming up with fun games that the entire camp enjoyed playing, like "make me laugh." This was a game where all of the counselors would walk up and down a line of every camper in the camp, and entice the kids to see who could break a counselor into laughter. This game was John's idea, and it is still being played at camp Chickami today. He also found the "girl and boy hate relationships" funny and often tried to bring us all together just to hear the girls scream "ew!" on a daily basis. Not only did he bring laughter and fun on a daily basis, but his comedic ways have left its imprint at the great day camp in Wayland, MA.

In 2005, when "The Office" aired for the first time, I saw John Krasinski on the show, and I was baffled at how familiar he looked to me. When the credits rolled, and I saw his name, I quickly remembered where I knew him from. He was that counselor who told me more than a few times to loosen up and try to have a little fun (I was an indoors type of child).

Having gone to the same camp as John Krasinski, I learned a lesson of never underestimating the person you are standing next to. That person could be the next biggest star to hit Hollywood. I feel honored to have gone to the same camp as him, and maybe to even have picked up how to have a little comedy in my life. Jim's personality on "The Office" is very close to John's personality in real life, and that is the one aspect that keeps me watching "The Office" week after week.

I bet if Camp Chickami realized that they had a future Hollywood actor on their staff, they would have done anything they could to keep him there for as long as possible knowing how much laughter he would bring to every kid. All and all, John Krasinski taught me to laugh at life, and I've always remembered him for that. He's a great guy, and even though I'm sure he wouldn't remember me (since I was just a quiet camper), I'm glad I had a chance to know him.