I still remember my first firefly as an Eilat Eagle and thinking about how I wanted to be like the older campers talking about their 6 points experiences. While I never thought I would be the one up here tonight giving this speech, I am so grateful for this opportunity. But even more so, I am grateful to have had such an amazing experience myself here at 6 Points, an experience that I am excited to share with you all tonight.

While this camp has impacted me in more ways than I know, it’s the people here at 6 Points that changed me the most. Whether bonding with my dorm in rest hour, getting better at volleyball during sport majors, or trying new electives with my best friends, each moment and memory of camp led me to be who I am today.

One of the first people I met while pulling into AHA, excited but equally full of fear, was Elizabeth. She was also nervous, but after talking to her for less than 5 minutes, I knew I was home. It turned out that we were in the same sport major, dorm, and she was even my roommate. With her, I felt safe and all my nerves turned into excitement. Being able to so quickly connect with someone is something that I think is so special, while also so common, here at camp.

There aren’t many people that come into your life that you can go a whole year without seeing and then feel like no time has passed at all. But when at camp, we are surrounded by lifelong friends that we see for only 2 weeks out of the year. The short time we spend together makes the memories all the more memorable. And the people that much more important.  

To Sasha, one of my closest friends that I met here at camp, it wasn’t easy coming back after being away for 2 years due to covid. But you and I instantly reconnected at our first sport major like no time had passed at all. We started warming up and somehow within minutes ended up on the ground dying of laughter like we had at AHA. After that moment, I knew that I had made a friend for life. Thank you for always being there for me, no matter how many years have passed.

And to Eden, you have changed my camp experience most of all. Getting to grow such a strong friendship with you in such a short amount of time has been such an incredible experience. When I met you on opening day, I never believed that we would connect so instantly yet so strongly. Sitting at the table with you on that first day changed my life in a way that I never could have imagined possible before. There is no one I would rather race to the shower and get told to be quiet with EVERY night. Thank you for being the person I feel most comfortable around. Thank you for our late night talks. Thank you for our inside jokes.  But most of all, thank you for being you. Thank you for everything. 

And to K’Far, thank you for being the best dorm I could ask for during my last session at camp. I have enjoyed getting to know so many of you in such a short amount of time. Thank you to the counselors for yelling at us to get up in the morning – I know it’s not easy to get up 19 exhausted teenage girls. Thank you for yelling at us to hurry up in the shower, blasting songs while telling us our 2 minutes are up.

I was asked to share something that I have learned during my past 5 years at 6 points, so to Tel Aviv, Ein Gedi, Haifa, and Eilat, please treasure every moment. And in those moments, make as many connections as you can. But most of all, live in the moment. Do that elective that you’ve always wanted to try, introduce yourself to the person across the hall, and when music is playing, get up and dance.

Being a part of such a big team at camp has shown me what it takes to be a good leader. Often times leadership is defined by loud voices and passion, however, over my time at 6 Points I’ve learned of many different types of leadership, and found that you don’t always need to be the loudest in the room to have the most impact.

I’ve heard many people say that the days are long, but the weeks are short and I can’t think of anything that sums up my time here more perfectly. There is no place I love and miss, more than 6 Points. 

No matter how far away you feel from home, no matter how many miles from your bed you are, no matter how many hours away your family is, this place will always have open arms, a welcoming second family and moments that will last seconds but memories that will last a lifetime.

With love,

Rachel