Every year, UCLA UniCamp gives more than 1,200 kids from urban communities a chance to experience a classic outdoor summer camp, side-by-side with over 400 UCLA student volunteers, like me. It’s a place where campers and volunteers learn from each other, try new things, and discover what they’re capable of.

When I was a volunteer and mentor at this camp, I got to experience so much joy and discovered that giving my time not only changed a child’s summer, but also gave me purpose. Seeing the kids enjoy a summer in the mountains that they otherwise might not have access to was inspirational.