Her Story

At her summer camp, 17-year-old Ahava participated enthusiastically in group activities, found calm in the art studio, and built friendships with ease. Yet her role was far more profound than it seemed: instead of focusing entirely on her own experience, she had dedicated herself to serving as a one-on-one shadow for an 11-year-old girl with severe ADHD and developmental delays. While her peers spent their days immersed in the joys of camp life, Ahava’s attention was fixed on ensuring that one child felt understood, included, and valued. 

This wasn’t not merely a job for Ahava; it was a deeply personal mission. “I have ADHD myself,” she explains. “When I was younger, it was hard to complete even basic tasks. I had someone who helped me through it, and now I get to be that person for someone else.”

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The camper Ahava supported faces challenges that extend far beyond what most people imagine when they hear “ADHD.” Each morning required extraordinary patience: getting to an activity could take nearly half an hour, and tasks like brushing her hair or tying her shoelaces often required repeated reminders and gentle assistance. Her physical delays made sports and group dances difficult. In conversations, she often spoke impulsively or out of turn, which sometimes caused her peers to laugh or distance themselves. “Sometimes she says things she doesn’t mean, and other campers don’t realize she’s struggling to process everything around her,” Ahava shares. “But that doesn’t mean she deserves to be treated like she’s less than anyone else.” In those moments, Ahava did more than redirect or soothe. She stepped in as an advocate, correcting misconceptions and making sure that her mentee knew that she belonged.  

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One of the most powerful moments of the summer came when the camper helped her team win a singing competition, and the camp director danced with her in front of the entire camp. “That smile didn’t leave her face all night,” Ahava recalls. “She felt seen and like everyone else for once.” 

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As a result of Ahava’s compassion and unwavering presence, nine-year-old Ora is not only gaining the tools necessary to thrive but also the confidence to do so. Just as importantly, the rest of the camp had learned, through Ahava’s example, that inclusion is not about perfection. It's about choosing to see people for who they are, not just how they act.

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For Ahava, this is what empathy looks like in practice. “Empathy means understanding someone even if you’ve never been in their shoes, and giving them the patience and kindness you’d want in return,” Ahava says. It means looking beyond surface-level behavior and recognizing the strength it takes for someone with ADHD to make it through an ordinary day.