The Roost

Mary Gray (use both first and last name like…MaryGray): Head of Riverside

School, Major, and Vocational Goal: I’m graduating from Sewanee in just a few weeks. I can’t believe it! I majored in Religion/Philosophy with a minor in art history (super practical, right? Ha!) Not sure what I’ll do long-term, but I’m au-pairing in Italy next year while I figure it out!

Years at Skyline: 6 camper, 5 counselor!

Hobbies: Singing in the car, watching/quoting movies obsessively, traveling, hanging out with friends/family, learning Italian, drinking Diet Coke, getting crafty, plotting schemes to become Blue Ivy Carter’s babysitter, hiking/adventuring around Sewanee, lots of different campus activities!

Tell us about your favorite and/or funniest camp memory: TOO many, but I think what takes the cake from 2011 was when my car (the poor old “PT Loser”), broke down during a night off. At the time my cell phone was MIA, so I pulled over to a Fort Payne gas station and called the local Wal-Mart to page “any Skyline counselors in the building.” I literally sat on a milk crate outside the gas station waiting for a ray of hope as a very nice cashier tried to rehabilitate my tire and gave me free snacks and Diet Coke. Shout-out to Julia Moore, Merritt Jones, and Sarah Peacock who ended up coming to get me. We laughed so hard all the way back up the mountain, and we had a great story for everybody the next day! AND shout-out to Larry and Sally for being amazing all summer and helping me get it fixed!! Thank goodness for camp people, right??

How had Skyline shaped who you are today and how has Skyline impacted your spiritual walk with God?
I saw this bad ‘80s movie recently that was about a camp. It was super cheesey, but one line in it really stuck with me: “Nobody changes at summer camp. Instead they find out who they are and become it more.” That’s Skyline in a nutshell—it takes what’s already great in you and brings it out even more! It’s made me more independent, optimistic, adventurous, and appreciative of community—I’ve met some of my favorite people there. Camp also teaches you that there’s ALWAYS something to laugh about! I’ve seen in the staff a real-life model of 1 Corinthians 12: “There are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit, and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.” Camp is so inspiring because you get to see that in action!

What do you hope to see campers walk away with after their time spent here this summer? Every year I love seeing campers build or renew friendships, gain or restore self-confidence, and discover or strengthen faith. I hope everybody leaves camp feeling empowered, knowing that they’re loved for who they are! I love how Skyline gives girls the opportunity to just be kids, and I hope they leave with enough hilarious memories to keep them laughing with their friends all year!