Krista W • Michigan • 28
I first got my period when I was away at sleep away band camp for 2 weeks the summer between 6th and 7th grade. This was one of those *prestigious* band camps you had to audition for, and the only reason my parents let me go was because I got a scholarship. I was going with my best friend at the time. We were sharing the same cabin and same bunk. We even choreographed a dance for the talent show. This was like peak 13 year old girl energy.
The entire first week I spent in the nurse’s office because I was having strange stomach pains that I never experienced before (period cramps). They kept telling me it was constipation from dehydration. This was very much possible, because (of course) Michigan was experiencing an unseasonably warm 100 degree heat wave.
One night, I woke up to a hot sticky mess. Blood was everywhere. It was in my underwear, sheets, pajamas. I did not know what to do. Luckily, I had my best friend there to help me. She had all but probably 2 or 3 periods in her life herself, but she taught me how to use a pad. Of course I didn’t pack extra underwear, or shorts, or sheets. My cabin leader was a not very nice person, and she did not let me put anything in the laundry except for the band camp uniform (blue collared shirt and navy shorts). I was mortified. All week I had to sleep in my bloody pajama shorts and bloody sheets. I cried myself to sleep because I was so embarrassed. I don’t understand how she had zero empathy for me.
I do not look back fondly on my band camp memories. The band camp was named Blue Lake, and I jokingly refer to it now as Red Lake.
