I was a student volunteer with Camp Kesem Stanford for three years and now serve as the chair of its Steering Committee. I'm not exaggerating when I say that Camp Kesem Stanford fundamentally changed me and how I approach the world.
My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer when I was seven years old. While she desperately wanted to beat it so that she could see her children grow old, the cancer had other plans. It eventually metastasized to her liver and she passed on Oct. 30, 2007; I was eleven years old.
Before Kesem, I never would have had the courage to share my family's story. I felt like my loss was a weakness that needed to be hidden underneath a veil of smiles and successes. Then, as a sophomore at Stanford, I attended Kesem's counselor retreat. I remember watching as classmates who I admired deeply shared their own stories of grief. It was truly powerful seeing others open up in this way and inspired me to do the same.
Since that retreat, I feel like a different person. A weight that sat on my chest for years was instantly relieved, and I suddenly felt empowered to put love into the world. I realized, for the first time in almost a decade, what it was like to not feel broken.
It's truly a testament to this organization and its values that I am now chair of its Steering Committee. Despite being the youngest person on the committee, I am afforded a great deal of respect and trust by my colleagues. Having someone whose mom passed of cancer now helping to guide the organization that serves children whose parents have cancer shows that our mission and approach works.
I strive to be an example for all the kids we serve. Even if life deals you a poor hand, you can still live a meaningful and happy life with the help of your community and the openness to share your scars.
I had the privilege of being a part of Camp Kesem Stanford for all four years of my Stanford experience. Camp Kesem gives an often overlooked group of children and young adults a community of love, support, and life-long friendship. Camp Kesem showed me the potential of pure human kindness and I continue to aspire to live my life in a way that can show that potential to others.
Camp Kesem is one of the most profoundly impactful places on this earth. I am incredibly grateful that I could be a part of this organization and be a small small part of the magic that changes lives.
Camp Kesem works to create a community in which people can be as honest and open about their stories and struggles as they would like. This is a community in which love and open-mindedness are truly at the center.
Camp Kesem is by far the most impactful experience I have had at Stanford. My first year, I was a cabin counselor, my second year a unit leader, and my third year on the leadership team. It provides Stanford students with a wonderful way to grow as people, and learn compassionate leadership skills that we will take with us into the world. And all the while, filling an over-looked need and providing campers with such an important experience. The care, attention, and love that is put into the camper's experience is remarkable, and shows through in the camper and parent feedback. I plan to continue to support the organization any way I can after graduation!
Kesem has been a transformative part of my undergraduate experience at Stanford. I've worked as a camp counselor since my freshman year, and have been consistently impressed and rejuvenated by the love present in this community.
I joined Camp Kesem as a junior at Stanford, and my only regret is not having joined sooner. I have never been a member of a community so dedicated, loving, welcoming, and brave. Seeing not only how the counselors impacted the campers, but also how the campers in return influenced each and every counselor, revealed the true power of a community that grows together to gain strength and find joy in the face of such adversity. Kesem is truly one-of-a-kind opportunity to support children through and beyond cancer experiences in their families, and I am so honored to be a part of it.
It's an amazing non profit that has done incredible things for hundreds of children and college students. We need more Camp Kesems in this world.
As a counselor for Camp Kesem at Stanford, I felt that my college experience had finally found the one thing that it needed. The year-round community that this organization provides for campers and counselors alike is truly magical. I have found some of my closest friends through Camp Kesem and I definitely feel like I am making an impact on a commonly overlooked group of kids and their families. My first experience was so great, in fact, that I am now one of the coordinators for next year's camp. Spread the Kesem love!
This nonprofit does amazing things, not only for the community that it serves but for the volunteers that serve it. Camp Kesem is a week full of magic and a year-long community for kids to help them through and beyond their parent's cancer, free of charge. I love everything about this nonprofit.
Kesem has been the most rewarding and meaningful service group I have been a part of because of our mission and the people. As someone who is deeply inspired and energized by children, it is such an honor to be able to learn from young individuals who have had to mature unusually rapidly. I have learned so much from them, my campers in particular, and from my co-counselors, each of whom bring a myriad of traits to our team.
I have been a volunteer at Camp Kesem Stanford for three years now as a student, and it has been by far the most meaningful and impactful community I have seen operating on a college campus. From the back-end student fundraising, leadership, and interfacing with families affected by cancer to the week of camp itself, where over 100 kids with a parent who has or has had cancer get to revel together in a glorious summer camp experience, CK at Stanford is run with a commitment to love, fun, the incredible importance of this mission, and professionalism. I have never seen kids so happy, families so happy, nor felt myself so happy as when camp happens, with everyone coming together to create a playful, goofy, warm community of joy and true support. Kesem means magic, Stanford is the founding chapter of Kesem, and that magic definitely still animates the organization today.