my grandfather was one of those people who really embodied the phrase to whom
who really embodied the phrase to whom
who really embodied the phrase to whom much is given much is expected now he
much is given much is expected now he
much is given much is expected now he had an amazing life and he took it upon
had an amazing life and he took it upon
had an amazing life and he took it upon himself to give back to those who really
himself to give back to those who really
himself to give back to those who really needed it
needed it
needed it now Papa Jack taught me both through his
now Papa Jack taught me both through his
now Papa Jack taught me both through his words and his actions that showing
words and his actions that showing
words and his actions that showing others love gives them resiliency and it
others love gives them resiliency and it
others love gives them resiliency and it was these ideals that he passed on to me
was these ideals that he passed on to me
was these ideals that he passed on to me that inspired me to join a certain
that inspired me to join a certain
that inspired me to join a certain organization my freshman year at MIT and
organization my freshman year at MIT and
organization my freshman year at MIT and this organization was bursting with love
this organization was bursting with love
this organization was bursting with love I wanted to share my own personal spice
I wanted to share my own personal spice
I wanted to share my own personal spice with this magical place Camp Kesem
with this magical place Camp Kesem
with this magical place Camp Kesem so as a bit of background first I am a
so as a bit of background first I am a
so as a bit of background first I am a counselor I camp Kesem which is a summer
counselor I camp Kesem which is a summer
counselor I camp Kesem which is a summer camp for children aged 6 to 18 whose
camp for children aged 6 to 18 whose
camp for children aged 6 to 18 whose parents have been affected by cancer now
parents have been affected by cancer now
parents have been affected by cancer now these kids have to grow up before normal
these kids have to grow up before normal
these kids have to grow up before normal kids should whether it’s driving your
kids should whether it’s driving your
kids should whether it’s driving your dad to chemo or having to put every
dad to chemo or having to put every
dad to chemo or having to put every single meal on the table for your
single meal on the table for your
single meal on the table for your younger sister because your mom passed
younger sister because your mom passed
younger sister because your mom passed away but this camp is is pretty similar
away but this camp is is pretty similar
away but this camp is is pretty similar to any other summer camp you might be
to any other summer camp you might be
to any other summer camp you might be able to imagine as a camper the second
able to imagine as a camper the second
able to imagine as a camper the second you step off that bus you run in slow
you step off that bus you run in slow
you step off that bus you run in slow motion through a tunnel of counselors
motion through a tunnel of counselors
motion through a tunnel of counselors towards the sunlight ahead of you is all
towards the sunlight ahead of you is all
towards the sunlight ahead of you is all of the regular camp things to look
of the regular camp things to look
of the regular camp things to look forward to messy wars campfires swim
forward to messy wars campfires swim
forward to messy wars campfires swim time but then come those special moments
time but then come those special moments
time but then come those special moments a moment to yourself to think about
a moment to yourself to think about
a moment to yourself to think about somebody who is no longer here
somebody who is no longer here
somebody who is no longer here the chance to share your story with 150
the chance to share your story with 150
the chance to share your story with 150 other people
other people
other people the touch of a new best friend who
the touch of a new best friend who
the touch of a new best friend who changed your life in unspeakable ways in
changed your life in unspeakable ways in
changed your life in unspeakable ways in just five days
just five days
just five days it is climbing to the top of the rock
it is climbing to the top of the rock
it is climbing to the top of the rock wall because by God you have been in
wall because by God you have been in
wall because by God you have been in scarier places before here it is easy to
scarier places before here it is easy to
scarier places before here it is easy to laugh when it’s hard to smile now this
laugh when it’s hard to smile now this
laugh when it’s hard to smile now this is the experience that changed my life
is the experience that changed my life
is the experience that changed my life but it is just one of infinite settings
but it is just one of infinite settings
but it is just one of infinite settings to give and receive love the stories of
to give and receive love the stories of
to give and receive love the stories of the following three children and a final
the following three children and a final
the following three children and a final story about myself may give you a
story about myself may give you a
story about myself may give you a glimpse into what I’m talking about love
glimpse into what I’m talking about love
glimpse into what I’m talking about love gives resiliency my sophomore year I was
gives resiliency my sophomore year I was
gives resiliency my sophomore year I was a development coordinator which means
a development coordinator which means
a development coordinator which means that I was one of the people in charge
that I was one of the people in charge
that I was one of the people in charge of raising over a hundred and forty
of raising over a hundred and forty
of raising over a hundred and forty thousand dollars so that camp could be
thousand dollars so that camp could be
thousand dollars so that camp could be completely free for our campers that
completely free for our campers that
completely free for our campers that same year I was a counselor for the six
same year I was a counselor for the six
same year I was a counselor for the six to eight year olds I was especially
to eight year olds I was especially
to eight year olds I was especially close with one of my campers dodge ball
close with one of my campers dodge ball
close with one of my campers dodge ball now as you might have guessed dodge ball
now as you might have guessed dodge ball
now as you might have guessed dodge ball is a ball of energy known most notably
is a ball of energy known most notably
is a ball of energy known most notably and somewhat regrettably for his pying
and somewhat regrettably for his pying
and somewhat regrettably for his pying abilities but on one of the last days he
abilities but on one of the last days he
abilities but on one of the last days he came up to me and he asked he asked me
came up to me and he asked he asked me
came up to me and he asked he asked me how much his mom pays to send his
how much his mom pays to send his
how much his mom pays to send his brothers and him to camp I responded
brothers and him to camp I responded
brothers and him to camp I responded immediately by letting him know that
immediately by letting him know that
immediately by letting him know that it’s completely free well then how much
it’s completely free well then how much
it’s completely free well then how much do you guys have to raise for all of us
do you guys have to raise for all of us
do you guys have to raise for all of us I tried to brush the question aside by
I tried to brush the question aside by
I tried to brush the question aside by saying oh it’s a lot but absolutely
saying oh it’s a lot but absolutely
saying oh it’s a lot but absolutely worth it and dodge ball with his bright
worth it and dodge ball with his bright
worth it and dodge ball with his bright eyes and slightly misaligned teeth
eyes and slightly misaligned teeth
eyes and slightly misaligned teeth looked up at me and said wow you guys
looked up at me and said wow you guys
looked up at me and said wow you guys must love us a lot
must love us a lot
must love us a lot this seven-year-old for whom a major
this seven-year-old for whom a major
this seven-year-old for whom a major part of his life thus far had been his
part of his life thus far had been his
part of his life thus far had been his mom’s cancer knew what it meant to be
mom’s cancer knew what it meant to be
mom’s cancer knew what it meant to be loved and he took this love and it gave
loved and he took this love and it gave
loved and he took this love and it gave him strength to just be a kid again love
him strength to just be a kid again love
him strength to just be a kid again love gives
gives
gives see this past year I got to work a lot
see this past year I got to work a lot
see this past year I got to work a lot where the camper named minty minty is a
where the camper named minty minty is a
where the camper named minty minty is a twelve year old girl who can talk your
twelve year old girl who can talk your
twelve year old girl who can talk your head off about anything under the Sun I
head off about anything under the Sun I
head off about anything under the Sun I remember having a conversation with her
remember having a conversation with her
remember having a conversation with her about jellyfish for 30 minutes I mean
about jellyfish for 30 minutes I mean
about jellyfish for 30 minutes I mean there was no way that this girl could
there was no way that this girl could
there was no way that this girl could have been shy or reserved outside of
have been shy or reserved outside of
have been shy or reserved outside of camp in fact last year I went to one of
camp in fact last year I went to one of
camp in fact last year I went to one of her choir performances and this girl was
her choir performances and this girl was
her choir performances and this girl was belting it but then this past September
belting it but then this past September
belting it but then this past September she handed me a note addressed to
she handed me a note addressed to
she handed me a note addressed to several counselors and myself I just
several counselors and myself I just
several counselors and myself I just wanted to personally say to each of you
wanted to personally say to each of you
wanted to personally say to each of you thanks for making my first year at the
thanks for making my first year at the
thanks for making my first year at the best year I got a lot more confident
best year I got a lot more confident
best year I got a lot more confident because of you guys so thank all of you
because of you guys so thank all of you
because of you guys so thank all of you so much I love you all and I am glad you
so much I love you all and I am glad you
so much I love you all and I am glad you guys are a part of my CK family so maybe
guys are a part of my CK family so maybe
guys are a part of my CK family so maybe she wasn’t so confident before camp
she wasn’t so confident before camp
she wasn’t so confident before camp maybe the only reason she was able to
maybe the only reason she was able to
maybe the only reason she was able to get up there with her choir was because
get up there with her choir was because
get up there with her choir was because of the time that she sang at the talent
of the time that she sang at the talent
of the time that she sang at the talent show and what’s more she thanked me when
show and what’s more she thanked me when
show and what’s more she thanked me when the most I ever did for her was yell my
the most I ever did for her was yell my
the most I ever did for her was yell my head off and cheer for her during that
head off and cheer for her during that
head off and cheer for her during that talent show the love that others had
talent show the love that others had
talent show the love that others had shown this girl gave her confidence and
shown this girl gave her confidence and
shown this girl gave her confidence and finally when she gave me this personal
finally when she gave me this personal
finally when she gave me this personal award I knew that this girl was my hero
award I knew that this girl was my hero
award I knew that this girl was my hero too love gives resiliency orange bunny
too love gives resiliency orange bunny
too love gives resiliency orange bunny orange bunny is a 19 year old Camp Kesem
orange bunny is a 19 year old Camp Kesem
orange bunny is a 19 year old Camp Kesem graduate as of August and I could not be
graduate as of August and I could not be
graduate as of August and I could not be more proud of her she is the mom of camp
more proud of her she is the mom of camp
more proud of her she is the mom of camp always there to hold your hand to give
always there to hold your hand to give
always there to hold your hand to give you words of loving affirmation but her
you words of loving affirmation but her
you words of loving affirmation but her background is laden with hardships in
background is laden with hardships in
background is laden with hardships in this past year she shared her powerful
this past year she shared her powerful
this past year she shared her powerful story with all of us and I hope that
story with all of us and I hope that
story with all of us and I hope that this following paraphrase does her
this following paraphrase does her
this following paraphrase does her justice it begins in China where she was
justice it begins in China where she was
justice it begins in China where she was left on the steps of an orphan
left on the steps of an orphan
left on the steps of an orphan she had no words for the emotions that
she had no words for the emotions that
she had no words for the emotions that she felt she just knew that they hurt
she felt she just knew that they hurt
she felt she just knew that they hurt and when she was seven she was diagnosed
and when she was seven she was diagnosed
and when she was seven she was diagnosed with learning disabilities the emotions
with learning disabilities the emotions
with learning disabilities the emotions that she couldn’t name grew even
that she couldn’t name grew even
that she couldn’t name grew even stronger but then as she was being
stronger but then as she was being
stronger but then as she was being adopted she had so much to look forward
adopted she had so much to look forward
adopted she had so much to look forward to an American family where she would be
to an American family where she would be
to an American family where she would be loved unconditionally invincible to all
loved unconditionally invincible to all
loved unconditionally invincible to all the scary things nothing bad could ever
the scary things nothing bad could ever
the scary things nothing bad could ever happen to her and then her dad passed
happen to her and then her dad passed
happen to her and then her dad passed from cancer when she came to camp it
from cancer when she came to camp it
from cancer when she came to camp it changed her it gave her hope and
changed her it gave her hope and
changed her it gave her hope and resolution and passion so much so that
resolution and passion so much so that
resolution and passion so much so that she spent the entire next year working
she spent the entire next year working
she spent the entire next year working in a restaurant kitchen saving up money
in a restaurant kitchen saving up money
in a restaurant kitchen saving up money and finally she was able to donate that
and finally she was able to donate that
and finally she was able to donate that money back to an organization that had
money back to an organization that had
money back to an organization that had given her so much she sent us a check
given her so much she sent us a check
given her so much she sent us a check with the following note thanks for the
with the following note thanks for the
with the following note thanks for the magic thanks for being so supportive
magic thanks for being so supportive
magic thanks for being so supportive this year I worked part time and decided
this year I worked part time and decided
this year I worked part time and decided to donate to CK at MIT so that you can
to donate to CK at MIT so that you can
to donate to CK at MIT so that you can spread the magic of camp to other kids
spread the magic of camp to other kids
spread the magic of camp to other kids like me orange bunny the world needs
like me orange bunny the world needs
like me orange bunny the world needs more people like orange bunny people who
more people like orange bunny people who
more people like orange bunny people who truly live for others you know it was
truly live for others you know it was
truly live for others you know it was not enough for her that she alone had
not enough for her that she alone had
not enough for her that she alone had changed for the better
changed for the better
changed for the better she took the magic and the love that
she took the magic and the love that
she took the magic and the love that others had given her and given it back
others had given her and given it back
others had given her and given it back to those who needed it most this young
to those who needed it most this young
to those who needed it most this young woman embodies empathy and selflessness
woman embodies empathy and selflessness
woman embodies empathy and selflessness to the point where she goes out of her
to the point where she goes out of her
to the point where she goes out of her way to make a meaningful difference in
way to make a meaningful difference in
way to make a meaningful difference in other’s lives love gives resiliency now
other’s lives love gives resiliency now
other’s lives love gives resiliency now at this point I’d like to mention that
at this point I’d like to mention that
at this point I’d like to mention that all of you here have had a meaningful
all of you here have had a meaningful
all of you here have had a meaningful experience possibly similar to these and
experience possibly similar to these and
experience possibly similar to these and what’s important is what we make of it
what’s important is what we make of it
what’s important is what we make of it in the following is my experience both
in the following is my experience both
in the following is my experience both my grandfather as well as my grandmother
my grandfather as well as my grandmother
my grandfather as well as my grandmother passed away last fall within 24 hours of
passed away last fall within 24 hours of
passed away last fall within 24 hours of each other the most selfless man in my
each other the most selfless man in my
each other the most selfless man in my life and the most patient woman that I
life and the most patient woman that I
life and the most patient woman that I know will never get to see me graduate
know will never get to see me graduate
know will never get to see me graduate from MIT will never get to see the man
from MIT will never get to see the man
from MIT will never get to see the man that I have become I remember leaving
that I have become I remember leaving
that I have become I remember leaving right after my grandfather’s funeral so
right after my grandfather’s funeral so
right after my grandfather’s funeral so that I could come back to Boston in time
that I could come back to Boston in time
that I could come back to Boston in time for a camp reunion a place where campers
for a camp reunion a place where campers
for a camp reunion a place where campers and counselors came back together to
and counselors came back together to
and counselors came back together to relive the laughs and I was at one of
relive the laughs and I was at one of
relive the laughs and I was at one of the worst days of my life
the worst days of my life
the worst days of my life drowned and in tears and throbbing
drowned and in tears and throbbing
drowned and in tears and throbbing embraces I went to one of the best days
embraces I went to one of the best days
embraces I went to one of the best days laughter with tiny arms around my legs
laughter with tiny arms around my legs
laughter with tiny arms around my legs and smiles from below and the thing is I
and smiles from below and the thing is I
and smiles from below and the thing is I was at an all-time low and it was these
was at an all-time low and it was these
was at an all-time low and it was these kids that helped me that showed me love
kids that helped me that showed me love
kids that helped me that showed me love that gave me strength and in this moment
that gave me strength and in this moment
that gave me strength and in this moment I was reminded of a song that is so
I was reminded of a song that is so
I was reminded of a song that is so important to me in times like these some
important to me in times like these some
important to me in times like these some days wouldn’t be special if it wasn’t
days wouldn’t be special if it wasn’t
days wouldn’t be special if it wasn’t for rain and joy I wouldn’t feel so good
for rain and joy I wouldn’t feel so good
for rain and joy I wouldn’t feel so good if it wasn’t for pain love gives
if it wasn’t for pain love gives
if it wasn’t for pain love gives resiliency now I have a mission for all
resiliency now I have a mission for all
resiliency now I have a mission for all of you here take the compassion in your
of you here take the compassion in your
of you here take the compassion in your hearts and engage in activities where
hearts and engage in activities where
hearts and engage in activities where you can show other people love and in
you can show other people love and in
you can show other people love and in return you will get theirs thank you
return you will get theirs thank you
return you will get theirs thank you very much
very much
very much [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment