“Don’t forget to pack your suitcases full” , the head of my camp calls out with a large grin on her face. At the end of camp each year, I, along with my camp friends, are told to pack our suitcases full. For the little girls at camp, this might mean to make sure they place all of their belongings that they brought to camp into their suitcases. But to me, it meant, that as time at camp quickly dwindles, we must remember to accomplish our goals and dreams that we have made at camp. We must pack in everything we can in the last few days because camp is unique and you can’t experience it anywhere else.
As I begin to prepare for Budapest, I stare at my empty suitcase, procrastinating. What do I want to wear? Long sleeve or short sleeve? Fancy or casual? But, I quickly remembered my camp head reminding me to pack my suitcase full. I sit on my bed, pondering. What does this mean for my trip to Budapest? I began to realize, I have a lot to pack. I have a lot to bring to the Jewish teenagers that I am lucky to meet. I start forming a list:
I need to pack my Jewish values, specifically, the importance of family. Shabbat dinner, for example, is scheduled time out of my family’s busy lives to sit, relax and thoroughly enjoy each other’s company.
I need to pack my education. Beth Tfiloh has pushed me not only to do the best in academics but also to be the best person I can be. At beth tfiloh, I am given many opportunities to expand my learning, with Advanced Placement courses, intellectual field trips, like the Opioid Epidemic Conference, and fascinating trips, such as, traveling to Budapest.
I need to pack my character. Leadership, confidence, and kindness, are important aspects of who I am. An outgoing and charismatic girl, I want to learn and become a better individual from people and things around me.
Although I have many more things to pack in my suitcase, I want to save a little space for what I will learn and gain from my experience in Budapest that I will be able to bring home and share with my family and community, like I do when I pack my suitcases full at the end of camp each summer.
