The first Keshet event I ever went to was Buddy Baseball in 2011. I came as a volunteer and was buddied up with an older participant who was at least triple my height. When they say "protect your players" he kept standing in front of me to protect me! I left the game feeling like this is a forever type of thing. I knew I would come back and coninute for many years to come.
A few years after that I met Max. Max has now become someone who means the world to me. The friendship and bond him and I have created over the past 6 years has become unbreakable. Max has particpated in baseball, bowling, and camp at 'Z' Frank Apachi Day Camp. The past 3 summers I have been lucky enough to be his counselor. This summer we are back and better than ever at Apachi! So far in these past few weeks I have seen Max grow so much at camp. He has become very independent and suddelnly very good at playing Kickball with our group, the Penne Pals.
Inclusion is super important to me because it has been apart of my life since I was in Kindergarden. I met someone with Down Syndrome because they were included in my classroom. These children learn from eachother. I see other children in the group at camp making sure Max gets a turn or helping him out by letting him know when he should run to 3rd base! Inclusion helps everyone grow and learn in small and big ways.
The reason I first volunteered at that Buddy Baseball game was for my Mitzvah project I was required to do for my Bat Mitzvah. I volunteered at some other place doing something I was not very interested in and I left there not feeling like I actually did a Mitzvah. So then my mom found out about Keshet and the rest is history. From getting more experiences with Keshet it confirmed my feelings about becoming a Special Education teacher. I am now studying Special Education at Illinois State University and I would not be there today without Keshet. Keshet has so much to offer. It seriously is the best.
First Time I met Max!
The first time I met Max in 2015 was at a Buddy Baseball game. Max has now become a huge part of my life. Since that game we have been buddies together at baseball, bowling, and at summer camp! I have loved getting to watch him grow up! Thank you Heather and Steve (Max's Parents) for allowing him and I these amazing opportunities for learning and growth!
In 2017 I accepted my first real job with Keshet! And with that I got to spend a whole week with THE Benji. Then as Keshet started doing more and more Day's off Trips I got to spend even more time with Benji and meet many other Keshet participants and staff too. These trips are always a fun time. My personal favorite was going to the Shedd Aquarium:)
Keshet has introduced me to so many people and we have built relationships beyond just doing things with Keshet. We have gone out to dinner, lunch or just to hang out! It is so nice to have had Keshet establish these bonds.
