How a Relationship Changed my Life

Written by Muhammad Talha

Being a staff member at Camp Dakota has impacted my life in countless positive and wonderful ways. Despite being a “job”, Camp Dakota did not feel like work for a second I was there, it was warm and welcoming, and it was my first job in which I was made to feel as though I belonged. Also, having attended Camp Dakota as a camper for 2 years, it was an aspiration of mine to one day give back to the organization and community that made my childhood summers memorable. When finally reaching the pedestal of staff member, the experience was everything I imagined, which was getting to go somewhere that made me feel like I was a kid all over again, and yet at the same time allowing me to grow and mature as a leader. An eye opener for me in terms of the children I worked with at the camp was simply the joy and impact that camp had on their summer, and the unwavering excitement they brought with them to camp every day. In short, as you can probably tell, being a Staff member at Camp Dakota means a ton to me, and it is a position that I wouldn’t give up for the world.

 I had the great fortune of transitioning and experiencing all three roles under the Camp Dakota umbrella, beginning as a camper for 2 years, then a LIT for 1 year, and finally the best of all, a staff position for the last two years. I truly feel that getting a position as a staff member at camp Dakota was defining moment for me, signaling the transition from an irresponsible teenager to a mature adult, and for that I’ll be forever grateful.

The one child that has stood out to me, in terms of the relationship I have built with her, is 7-year-old Saeeda Jan. I met Saeeda when she first joined the camp at 5 years old. Our relationship in the beginning was shaky; Saeeda was a shy child and was apprehensive in terms of making friends with what seemed to her at the time, a stranger. By slowly but surely allowing me to become her friend, Saeeda taught me a fundamental lesson in relationship building; which is that relationships are built on trust; not only in terms of relationships with children, but also with adults. I carry this lesson with me to this day. As time moved on, me and Saeeda’s relationship blossomed, and getting to catch up with Saeeda every summer became a highlight of the camp for me. Fast forward to today, and me and Saeeda’s relationship is as strong as ever, and it is a relationship that has changed my life for the better.