Aida's Camp Journal

Camper Aida, 18, shares her journal entry for June 30th...

Before this camp, I could not see myself being active in the future Iranian-American community. In fact, I wasn't even sure if there would be one at all. But seeing so many people my age who speak Farsi, and who are truly passionate about the culture, has made me reconsider my own level of activity. And also seeing the number of kids who are not able to be active in it, but are dying to be, also makes me want to do all that I can to help them enjoy the culture.
What was so amazing about this camp was that I found like-minded people. For one week I was on an island with 35 Iranian-Americans around whom I was not silent at all. The fact that I was animated, and held a similar role in the group to that which I hold in [my American] school, or in Iran amongst my cousins, while actually being at the crossroads of the two worlds, is a pretty phenomenal thing for which I have the camp to thank. I have never had that in my life, and never thought I would. The fact that I met people who were younger than me, and older than me, whom I could really talk to, meant a lot to me.