Reflecting On My Gravatt Internship

Reflecting On My Gravatt Internship

Two years ago, I was preparing for my senior year at Lander University. I always felt that I would have time to decide what my next steps would be after school, but that fourth and final year of my college career snuck up on me - and I did not feel like I was prepared to graduate. Many students around me talked about what paths they were taking and the jobs they had in place once they had their degree in hand, future employers just waiting for their arrival. Many of my peers were ready to move on, but I did not feel the same. What did I want to do with my degree? Where did I want to go?

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Camp Adventures in Reading

Camp Adventures in Reading

More than half of 4th graders in the United States are not proficient in reading. Illiteracy is strongly related to unemployment, poor health, and incarceration rates. Students reading below grade level at the end of third grade are four to six times more likely not to graduate from high school, which means their chances of continuing the cycle of poverty and the need for welfare for themselves, their children, and their communities are great.

In response to issues stemming from illiteracy, Gravatt partnered with the Diocese of Upper South Carolina to develop Camp Adventures in Reading (Camp AIR), 

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The Chef Behind Big Delicious

Ridge Spring, a classic small town complete with local shops and friendly folks, is home to a restaurant that keeps customers happy and coming back for more. Chef Brandon Velie and his wife Jeanne opened up Juniper in July of 2005 and are still going strong. It seems Velie has struck gold with his combination of fresh food, attentive and smiling staff, and vintage decorations that instantly transport you to a place of nostalgia.

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Meet our Summer Staff

Here are the last few staff members to get to know!

Taylor Patten

Ropes Director

Where are you from?   Columbia, SC      

Where do you go to school?   Clemson University   

How long have you been going to Gravatt?   Twelve years   

What is your favorite memory at Gravatt?   One period for GEEP when it was raining                                                                                                                                                                                                  and we went on a swamp walk                                                                                                                        What is your favorite day activity at camp?   GEEP   

What is your favorite camp meal?   Chicken Tenders and French Fries   

Who is a current or past staff member that you look up to?   Thomas Coleman   

What is your favorite night activity?   Rambo night   

Describe Gravatt and its ministry in one word.   Timeless   

What do you want to be when you grow up?   A saltwater fishing guide/captain   

JB Carrouth

Counselor                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Year Round Intern

Where are you from?   Columbia, SC   

Where do you go to church?   St. Joseph's Catholic Church      

How long have you been going to Gravatt?   Twelve years   

What is your favorite memory at Gravatt?   Doing a mud run with David Roth my last year as a camper                                                                     

What is your favorite day activity at camp?   Canoe   

What is your favorite camp meal?   Hamburger steak   

Who is a current or past staff member that you look up to?   David Roth   

What is your favorite night activity?   Jurassic Classic   

Describe Gravatt and its ministry in one word.   Inspiring   

What do you want to be when you grow up?   Years round intern   

Jordan Postal

Counselor

Where are you from?   Blythewood, SC   

Where do you go to church?  Spring Valley Presbyterian Church   

Where do you go to school?   Blythewood High School   

How long have you been going to Gravatt?   Seven years   

What is your favorite memory at Gravatt?   All of my counselors and the impact they have made on my life                                                                 

What is your favorite day activity at camp?   Art   

What is your favorite camp meal?   Chicken tenders   

Who is a current or past staff member that you look up to?   Darby Thompson, Amanda White, and Simons McGlone   

What is your favorite night activity?   Luau   

Describe Gravatt and its ministry in one word.   Welcoming   

What do you want to be when you grow up?   A teacher   

Rhett Hartin

Kitchen Assistant

Where are you from?   Columbia, SC   

Where do you go to church?   St. John's Episcopal Church   

Where do you go to school?   A.C. Flora High School   

How long have you been going to Gravatt?   Four years   

What is your favorite memory at Gravatt?   Going to the pit as a camper or free swim                                                                                                           

What is your favorite day activity at camp?   High Ropes  

What is your favorite camp meal?   Tacos   

Who is a current or past staff member that you look up to?   David Roth and Alex Bowers   

What is your favorite night activity?   Space Jam   

Describe Gravatt and its ministry in one word.   Phenomenal   

What do you want to be when you grow up?   A DNR officer or a photographer   

Justin Hadden

Program Director

Where are you from?   Aiken, SC      

Where do you go to school?   Aiken Technical College   

How long have you been going to Gravatt?   Two years   

What is your favorite memory at Gravatt?   The day we got the baby goats                                                                                                                                                                        

What is your favorite day activity at camp?   Footprints   

What is your favorite camp meal?   Luau night   

Who is a current or past staff member that you look up to?   Scott McNeely   

What is your favorite night activity?   Dragon Slayer Night   

Describe Gravatt and its ministry in one word.   Loving Community   

What do you want to be when you grow up?   That is still undecided

Lori Blum-Hiott

Camp Nurse

Where are you from?   Lexington, SC

What is your favorite activity at camp?   Free Swim

What is your favorite camp meal?   Fried Chicken

What is your favorite night activity?   Carnival

Describe Gravatt and its ministry in one word.   Wholesome

How long have you been going to Gravatt?   One year

What is your favorite Gravatt memory?   Torches on the last night of shalom

Where do you go to church?   Northside Baptist Church

Lily and Alex

Lily and Alex are nurse Lori's two daughters who have spent the summer by nurse Lori's side.   Lily is old enough to stay in a tent during elementary sessions and loves Strings N' Things and Goldrush during swim period.  Alex helps her mom in the infirmary, loves the dance, baby goats, and singing shalom.

Matthew Hogue

Counselor

Where are you from?   Columbia, SC  

Where do you go to church?   Spring Valley Presbyterian Church   

Where do you go to school?   The University of South Carolina   

How long have you been going to Gravatt?   Ten years   

What is your favorite memory at Gravatt?  The 10-day session that I won inspection everyday                                                                                                                                                                        

What is your favorite day activity at camp?   Adventure and Discovery   

What is your favorite camp meal?   Cold cut sandwich day   

Who is a current or past staff member that you look up to?   Hughes McGlone   

What is your favorite night activity?   Jurassic Classic   

Describe Gravatt and its ministry in one word.   Family   

What do you want to be when you grow up?   A Doctor    

Griffin Carrouth

Counselor

Where are you from?   Columbia, SC   

Where do you go to church?   St. Joseph's Catholic Church   

Where do you go to school?   A.C. Flora High School   

How long have you been going to Gravatt?   Seven years   

What is your favorite memory at Gravatt?   My first time playing narball                                                                                                                                                                        

What is your favorite day activity at camp?   Narball   

What is your favorite camp meal?   French toast sticks   

Who is a current or past staff member that you look up to?   JB Carrouth   

What is your favorite night activity?   Jurassic Classic   

Describe Gravatt and its ministry in one word.   Friendship   

What do you want to be when you grow up?   A lawyer

What is your favorite color?   Blue  

  

Meet the Summer 2015 Camp Gravatt Staff

Join us every week to learn about our summer staff

Caroline Sinegar

Counselor

Where are you from?   Irmo, South Carolina   

Where do you go to church?   Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church   

Where do you go to school?   Calhoun Honors College at Clemson University   

How long have you been going to Gravatt?   Nine years   

What is your favorite memory at Gravatt?   Going to the pit as a camper and then                                                                                                          going and jumping in the lake to get the mud off

What is your favorite day activity at camp?   Swim   

What is your favorite camp meal?   Hamburger steak with rice   

Who is a current or past staff member that you look up to?   Hughes McGlone   

What is your favorite night activity?   The Talent Show  

Describe Gravatt and its ministry in one word.   Supportive   

What do you want to be when you grow up?   Undecided   

Erick Gonzalez

Counselor

Where are you from?   York, SC    

Where do you go to school?   Winthrop University   

How long have you been going to Gravatt?   One year   

What is your favorite memory at Gravatt?   My first tent as a counselor                                                                                                                              

What is your favorite day activity at camp?   Canoeing   

What is your favorite camp meal?   Grilled Chicken Sandwiches   

Who is a current or past staff member that you look up to?   Winston Collins   

What is your favorite night activity?   Space Jam   

Describe Gravatt and its ministry in one word.  Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious   

What do you want to be when you grow up?   Pediatrician   

 

Sarah Bowers

Director of Art and GEEP                                                                                                                            

Year Round Intern

Where are you from?   Saluda, South Carolina   

How long have you been going to Gravatt?   Seventeen years

What is your favorite memory at Gravatt?   On the last night of the first Junior High                                                                                                                                                                                                session I was a counselor when my girls                                                                                                                                                                                            and I were lying on the back porch while                                                                                                                                                                                     looking at the stars and talking about our week                                                                                                     

What is your favorite day activity at camp?   Art and Swim   

What is your favorite camp meal?   Biscuits with sausage and gravy   

Who is a current or past staff member that you look up to?   Michelle Sutton Spigner   

What is your favorite night activity?   Gold Rush   

Describe Gravatt and its ministry in one word.   Love  

What do you want to be when you grow up?  A teacher or a baker in a pastry shop   

Goodson Michel 

Counselor

Where are you from?   Columbia, SC   

Where do you go to church?   St. Thomas More Catholic Church   

Where do you go to school?   Cardinal Newman High School   

How long have you been going to Gravatt?   Seven years   

What is your favorite memory at Gravatt?   My last year as a camper when we had                                                                                                                                                                                               night devotion with Louis in Stewart Dining Hall                                                                                         

What is your favorite day activity at camp?   High ropes   

What is your favorite camp meal?   Grilled Cheese   

Who is a current or past staff member that you look up to?   David Roth   

What is your favorite night activity?   The Dance   

Describe Gravatt and its ministry in one word.   Pure   

What do you want to be when you grow up?   A lawyer   

Alena Senf

Counselor

Where are you from?   Gilbert, South Carolina     

Where do you go to school?   Clemson University   

How long have you been going to Gravatt?   Seven years   

What is your favorite memory at Gravatt?   Going to the St. Francis Chapel the last                                                                                                                                                                                                                    night of my CIT year                                                                                                                              What is your favorite day activity at camp?   Archery  

What is your favorite camp meal?   Fried Chicken  

Who is a current or past staff member that you look up to?   Hughes McGlone  

What is your favorite night activity?   Halloween Night  

Describe Gravatt and its ministry in one word.   Love  

What do you want to be when you grow up? A Disney Imagineer   

Griffin Darby

Counselor

Where are you from?   Columbia, SC     

Where do you go to school?   University of South Carolina   

How long have you been going to Gravatt?   Eleven years   

What is your favorite memory at Gravatt?   My first cabin as a counselor which                                                                                                                                                                                                                   was Junior High 2 in 2013                                                                                                               

What is your favorite day activity at camp?   Swim  

What is your favorite camp meal?   Fried chicken, green beans, mashed potatoes, and gravy   

Who is a current or past staff member that you look up to?   Simons McGlone   

What is your favorite night activity?   Jurassic Classic   

Describe Gravatt and its ministry in one word.   Loving   

What do you want to be when you grow up?   Physical Therapist   

Bridges Michel

Counselor

Where are you from?   Columbia, SC  

Where do you go to school?   Clemson University   

How long have you been going to Gravatt?   Eight years   

What is your favorite memory at Gravatt?   In 2010 when we had prayer lanterns going                                                                                                                                                                                                      from Beckham to campfire                                                                                                                       What is your favorite day activity at camp?   Morning watch   

What is your favorite camp meal?   French Toast Sticks   

Who is a current or past staff member that you look up to?   Darby Thompson   

What is your favorite night activity?   The Talent Show   

Describe Gravatt and its ministry in one word.   Everlasting  

What do you want to be when you grow up?   I'm not sure yet, I know I want to work with kids                                                                                                                                                                                in some capacity but I don't know what specifically   

Where are you from?   York, SC   

Where do you go to church?   Church of the Good Shepherd   

Where do you go to school?   University of South Carolina   

How long have you been going to Gravatt?   Four years   

What is your favorite memory at Gravatt?   The Gravatt Olympics                                                                                                                                              

What is your favorite day activity at camp?   Swim   

What is your favorite camp meal?   Grilled Chicken Sandwiches   

Who is a current or past staff member that you look up to?   Simons McGlone   

What is your favorite night activity?   Space Jam   

Describe Gravatt and its ministry in one word.   Mesmerizing   

What do you want to be when you grow up?   A stay at home dad   

Meet the Summer 2015 Camp Gravatt Staff

Join us every week to learn about the current summer staff of Gravatt

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Sam Estes

Counselor

Where are you from?   Columbia, SC

Where do you go to church?   St. Thomas More Catholic Church

Where do you go to school?   College of Charleston

How long have you been going to Gravatt?   Six years

What is your favorite memory at Gravatt?   Getting to host a talent show with Griffin                                                                                                                                                                                              and Alex as my favorite Disney princess                                                                                                         What is your favorite day activity at camp?   Footprints

What is your favorite camp meal?   Pizza and corn

Who is a current or past staff member that you look up to?   Sydney Beckner and Hallie Carde   

What is your favorite night activity?   The Talent Show   

Describe Gravatt and its ministry in one word.   Selflessness

What do you want to be when you grow up?   A teacher and a head of a theater program  

Evan Mikula

Counselor

Where are you from?   Columbia, SC

Where do you go to church?   St. John Neumann

Where do you go to school?   Clemson University   

How long have you been going to Gravatt?   Eight years   

What is your favorite memory at Gravatt?   Going on a swamp walk with Hughes                                                                                                                                                                                                   Mcglone my last summer as a camper                                                                                                              What is your favorite day activity at camp?   Art on Tie dye day   

What is your favorite camp meal?   Hamburger steak night   

Who is a current or past staff member that you look up to?   Hughes Mcglone and David Roth   

What is your favorite night activity?   Jurassic Classic   

Describe Gravatt and its ministry in one word.   Home   

What do you want to be when you grow up?   A geologist 

Wythe Hunnicutt 

Counselor

Where are you from?   Augusta, GA

Where do you go to church?   Church of the Good Shepherd Episcopal Church   

Where do you go to school?   Wofford College   

How long have you been going to Gravatt?   Eleven years   

What is your favorite memory at Gravatt?   Devotions with Hughes Mcglone and Pierre Sanders my CIT year                                                                                                                                                                        

What is your favorite day activity at camp?   Canoeing  

What is your favorite camp meal?   Spaghetti   

Who is a current or past staff member that you look up to?   Hallie Carde   

What is your favorite night activity?   Disney night   

Describe Gravatt and its ministry in one word.   Caring   

What do you want to be when you grow up?   Someone that does something with Marketing

Winston Collins

 Counselor/ Year round intern

Where are you from?   Forest Acres, SC

Where do you go to church?   St. John's Episcopal Church      

How long have you been going to Gravatt?   Really since I was born with my church, camp, and Diocesan Youth events   

What is your favorite memory at Gravatt?   Teaching campers about prescribed or control burns with Hughes Mcglone                                      

What is your favorite day activity at camp?   GEEP (Gravatt Environmental Education Program)   

What is your favorite camp meal?   Meatloaf   

Who is a current or past staff member that you look up to?   Scott McNeely and Thomas Coleman   

What is your favorite night activity?   Jurassic Classic   

Describe Gravatt and its ministry in one word.   Hospitality   

What do you want to be when you grow up?   A forester   

Beth Jones

Counselor

Where are you from?   Lexington, SC    

Where do you go to school?   University of South Carolina   

How long have you been going to Gravatt?   Fifteen years as camper and staffer, but really my whole life   

What is your favorite memory at Gravatt?   When I came to a staff reunion with my parents when                                                                                                                                                                    I was three years old, and I was sitting on the Beckham porch                                                                                                                                                           and Father Byrd sat and talked with me

What is your favorite day activity at camp?   Polar Bear   

What is your favorite camp meal?   Grilled Chicken Sandwiches   

Who is a current or past staff member that you look up to?   All the current and former staff members   

What is your favorite night activity?   Jurassic Classic   

Describe Gravatt and its ministry in one word.   Love  

What do you want to be when you grow up?   The camp director or be a board member

Scott McNeely

Camp Director 

Where are you from?    York, SC

Where did you go to school?   Clemson University   

How long have you been going to Gravatt?   Twenty-five years   

What is your favorite memory at Gravatt?   When I was a camper and we would have water                                                                                                                                                                                             wars on boys side during rest period                                                                                           

What is your favorite day activity at camp?   Swim period on Sharks and Minnows day   

What is your favorite camp meal?   The hamburgers and hot dogs at Luau   

Who is a current or past staff member that you look up to?   Father Byrd   

What is your favorite night activity?   The Space Jam   

Describe Gravatt and its ministry in one word.   Excellence     

 

 

Meet our Summer Camp Staff

Check each week to meet the Summer Camp Staff of 2015

Louis Mcelveen

Director of Engineering

Where are you from?   Columbia, SC

Where do you go to church?   Eastminster Presbyterian Church

Where do you go to school?   Furman University

How long have you been going to Gravatt?   Fifteen years

What is your favorite memory at Gravatt?   My first tent as a counselor

What is your favorite day activity at camp?   Choice period

What is your favorite camp meal?   Corn dog nuggets

Who is a current or past staff member that you look up to?   Gray Robbins

What is your favorite night activity?   Lord of the Rings night

Describe Gravatt and its ministry in one word.   Compassion

What do you want to be when you grow up?   Astronaut

Mikki Raska

Counselor

Where are you from?   Williston, SC

Where do you go to school?   Winthrop University

How long have you been going to Gravatt?   Six years

What is your favorite memory at Gravatt?   When some of my campers made a deck of                                                                                                                                                                                          cards with "44 reasons why we love Mikki"

What is your favorite day activity at camp?   Canoeing

What is your favorite camp meal?   Meatball subs

Who is a current or past staff member that you look up to?   Darby Thompson

What is your favorite night activity?   Jurassic Classic

Describe Gravatt and its ministry in one word.   Selfless

What do you want to be when you grow up?   Speech Pathologist

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Alex Bowers

Waterfront Director

Where are you from?   Columbia, SC

Where do you go to school?   Tri-County Technical College

How long have you been going to Gravatt?   Nine years

What is your favorite memory at Gravatt?   Hosting the Talent Show as Harry Carry with                                                                                                                                    Simons

What is your favorite day activity at camp?   Swim Period

What is your favorite camp meal?   Chicken Tenders

Who is a current or past staff member that you look up to?   Francis Anderson

What is your favorite night activity?   Man Hunt

Describe Gravatt and its ministry in one word.   Scrumtrulescent

What do you want to be when you grow up?   Art teacher

Etta Gantt

Counselor

Where are you from?   Camden, SC

Where do you go to church?   Grace Episcopal Church

Where do you go to school?   University of South Carolina

How long have you been going to Gravatt? Ten years

What is your favorite memory at Gravatt?   Field day my first year on staff

What is your favorite day activity at camp?   Canoeing

What is your favorite camp meal?   Corndog nuggies

Who is a current or past staff member that you look up to?   Langley Altman

What is your favorite night activity?   The Dance

Describe Gravatt and its ministry in one word.   Bliss

What do you want to be when you grow up?   Child life specialist

Frank Townsend

Director of Technology

Where are you from?   Aiken, SC

Where do you go to church?   St.Thaddeus, Aiken

Where do you go to school?   I just graduated Clemson University

How long have you been going to Gravatt?   Ten years

What is your favorite memory at Gravatt?   Winning the Gravatt World Cup in 2014                                                                                                   

What is your favorite day activity at camp?  Playing soccer in the field or playing human foosball

What is your favorite camp meal?   Chicken fingers

Who is a current or past staff member that you look up to?   Jake Chesser and Francis Anderson

What is your favorite night activity?   Capture the Flag

Describe Gravatt and its ministry in one word.   Belonging

What do you want to be when you grow up?   To be determined

Maddy Mazoue

Counselor

Where are you from?   Columbia, SC

Where do you go to church?   St. John Neumann Catholic Church

Where do you go to school?   Clemson University

How long have you been going to Gravatt?   Ten years

What is your favorite memory at Gravatt?   My last year as a camper when we sang Creed                                                                                                                                                                                                        songs everywhere

What is your favorite day activity at camp?   Swimming

What is your favorite camp meal?   Spaghetti

Who is a current or past staff member that you look up to?   Madelyn Smith 

What is your favorite night activity?   Manhunt

Describe Gravatt and its ministry in one word.   Inspirational

What do you want to be when you grow up?   Physical Therapist

 

 

Meet our Summer Camp Staff

Join us every week to meet our Summer Camp Staff

Amanda White

Head Female Counselor

Where are you from?   Aiken, SC

Where do you go to school?   Clemson University

How long have you been going to Gravatt?   Six years ( four years on staff and two years                                                                                                volunteering and working in the kitchen)

What is your favorite memory at Gravatt?   My first talent show

What is your favorite day activity at camp?   Swim Period and High Ropes

What is your favorite camp meal?   Grilled Chicken Sandwiches and Gravatt squares

Who is a current or past staff member that you look up to?   Sarah Bowers

What is your favorite night activity?   Jurassic Classic

Describe Gravatt and its ministry in one word.   Beyond all words

What do you want to be when you grow up?   Artist

Otto Williams

Counselor

Where are you from?   Aiken, SC

Where do you go to school?   Will be in the military and studying at Auburn University

How long have you been going to Gravatt?   Three years

What is your favorite memory at Gravatt?   On the last night of ROC when I got a camper                                                                                                                       through a difficult time

What is your favorite day activity at camp?   Swim Period

What is your favorite camp meal?   Corn dog nuggets

Who is a current or past staff member that you look up to?   Simons Mcglone, Winston Collins,                                                                                                                                and Griffin Darby

What is your favorite night activity?   Jurassic Classic

Describe Gravatt and its ministry in one word.   Amazing

What do you want to be when you grow up?   Game Warden

Finley Buchanan

Counselor

Where are you from?   Greenville, SC

Where do you go to church?   St. Peter's Episcopal Church

Where do you go to school?   Furman University

How long have you been going to Gravatt?   9 years

What is your favorite memory at Gravatt?    My last night as a camper we went out to                                                                                                  the pit to have our own tent/cabin campfire

What is your favorite day activity at camp?   Canoeing

What is your favorite camp meal?   Baked Ziti

Who is a current or past staff member that you look up to?   Hallie Carde, Darby Thompson,                                                                                                                                  Sarah Bowers

What is your favorite night activity?   Manhunt

Describe Gravatt and its ministry in one word.   Lively

What do you want to be when you grow up?   Art therapist

Simons Mcglone

Assistant Director                                                                                                                                               Director of Leadership and Development

Where are you from?   Augusta, Ga

Where do you go to church?  St. Paul's Episcopal Church

Where do you go to school?   Georgia Southern University

How long have you been going to Gravatt?   Fifteen years

What is your favorite memory at Gravatt?   The week I spent being counselor for Tent One

What is your favorite day activity at camp?   High Ropes

What is your favorite camp meal?   Pizza and Corn

Who is a current or past staff member that you look up to?   Thomas Coleman and Scott                                                                                                                                               McNeely

What is your favorite night activity?   Talent Show

Describe Gravatt and its ministry in one word.   Love

What do you want to be when you grow up?   Businessman that owns my own construction                                                                                                                               company

Danielle Steger

Counselor

Where are you from?   Irmo, SC

Where do you go to church?   Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church

Where do you go to school?   University of South Carolina

How long have you been going to Gravatt?   Nine years

What is your favorite memory at Gravatt?   Seeing a shooting star at shalom circle as a                                                                                                                              camper

What is your favorite day activity at camp?   Canoeing

What is your favorite camp meal?   Grilled Chicken Sandwiches

Who is a current or past staff member that you look up to?   Hallie Carde

What is your favorite night activity?  The Dance

Describe Gravatt and its ministry in one word.   Fellowship

What do you want to be when you grow up?   Math Teacher

Hayne Floyd

Head Male Counselor

Where are you from?   Aiken, SC

Where do you go to church?   Cedar Creek Church

Where do you go to school?   Clemson University

How long have you been going to Gravatt?   Eleven years

What is your favorite memory at Gravatt?    Going on a mud run with David Roth my last                                                                                                                   year as a camper

What is your favorite day activity at camp?   Swim Period

What is your favorite camp meal?   Chicken Fingers and French Fries

Who is a current or past staff member that you look up to?   Hughes Mcglone, Daniel Allen,                                                                                                                                    and Jackson Byrd

What is your favorite night activity?   Capture the Flag or Luau

Describe Gravatt and its ministry in one word.   Relationships

What do you want to be when you grow up?   Mathemagician