I have been working in Camp Tikvah since the summer of 2012. For those of you who don’t know, Camp Tikvah is an all-inclusive camp within Camp Ruach for children on the autism spectrum. For the past two summers I have been the senior counselor, but when it started, I was a fifteen year old who knew very little about autism. I wasn’t confident in my abilities to work with people with special needs. In fact, I was nervous. I was afraid that none of the kids would like me and I would have trouble connecting with them. Now, looking back on that summer, I almost feel like laughing and I almost feel like crying. I never in a million years thought that working with these children would change and shape my life as much as it already has. They have made such a huge impact on me, and I know that anyone else who has had the opportunity to work in Camp Tikvah will tell you the same.
Working in Camp Tikvah has taught me so many things that I never expected to learn. The children have taught me patience, kindness, and empathy — all virtues that I thought I already knew and understood. Throughout the years they’ve taught me many other things as well:
1. In many ways, autism isn’t a disability; it’s a different ability.
Over the past few years I’ve worked with children all over the autism spectrum. With every single child that I’ve had the opportunity to work with, I’ve seen them accomplish amazing things that other children of the same age are unable to do. From seemingly super-human strength, to the ability to transpose a song or harmonize perfectly the first time singing something, these kids have shown me time and again that they are amazing people who are beyond talented in ways that most people aren’t by their age.
2. Love can be expressed in more ways than one.
Although some of the kids in Camp Tikvah are non-verbal, that does not mean that they don’t work to express their love for others. Love can be expressed in so many ways beyond saying, “I love you” or “I appreciate you.” A single look from one of my campers can make me feel like he’s jumped into my soul and knows exactly what I’m feeling at that very moment. I know he understands because if I am having a rough day, he’ll give me a huge hug and whisper to me about Minions, the movie he recently saw, or take off his shoes to show me his Monsters Inc. socks. If I’m having a great day, he’ll giggle and motion for me to lie down and hold him above me with my knees and hands so he can feel like he’s flying. I have loved learning the many ways that my campers express their love and appreciation towards others.
3. Enjoy the simple things in life and ignore the bumps in the road.
Sometimes we have a rough day at camp, but those days are far outweighed by the days that we spend making each other laugh, playing games, have shaving cream fights, and building new friendships. Working in Camp Tikvah has taught me to move past the rough patches and focus on the positive aspects of every day. Knowing that some of these kids would not have the opportunity to go to such an awesome camp anywhere else makes every day feel tremendously satisfying, no matter what challenges we overcame.
I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to work in Camp Tikvah. I truly feel that it has changed my life. The campers, their families, and Tikvah staff are all inspirational to me. I’m positive that anyone who has spent time working in Camp Tikvah would agree with me when I say that Tikvah holds and will always hold a very special place in my heart.
By Neena Khindria, Camp Counselor
Note: There is a benefit for Camp Tikvah on Saturday, March 5 at 5 Walnut Wine Bar. Click here for details. Also, sign ups are now open for Camp Ruach and Camp Tikvah 2016!
