Seeds of Peace

• Job: PhD Student | Political Science Department, Stanford University
• Regional Programming: Regional Coordinator in Jerusalem, Middle East Youth Summit of Villars, Alumni Leadership Summit, and the Aqaba and Morocco Summits
• Years at Camp: 1996, 1997, 1998; Counselor: 2006
• Israeli Delegation
• Age: 27

In what ways has your experience with Seeds of Peace impacted you as a person?

There is no doubt that Seeds of Peace was a life-altering experience for me. It became my youth movement in my high school years and my first job as an adult. It influenced how I see the political reality tremendously, as well as any relationships between human beings.

My Seeds of Peace experience is part of the reason I decided to dedicate my life to the political realm.  The experience helped me to realize I can't ignore the predicament in which my society is entrenched and pursue other interests instead.

As you embark upon your professional career, how do the lessons learned at Seeds of Peace inform your ambitions?

The experience of Seeds of Peace and the close relationships I developed with many of my fellow campers, facilitators and coordinators contributed to my decision to focus on politics. Having Palestinian friends exposed me to the way they live their lives and the personal sides of their tragedy. When you read about it in the paper, it's one thing; when it's your friends, it's a totally different story.

As I begin my PhD, and start my way into academia, I treasure the fact that I had the opportunity to discuss and engage with people from such different perspectives and backgrounds. It has enriched my perspective on reality, and it continues to do so every day.