Hi! My name is Ella Miller, and this year was my fourth year volunteering at Camp Dream Street. Without a doubt, these have been some of the best and most meaningful weeks of my life. It is honestly difficult to put into words how much Dream Street means to me, but I will do my best.

I was a counselor for my first two years at Dream Street. While those weeks were some of the hardest and most exhausting experiences I have had, they were also the most rewarding. I would never trade those moments or lessons for anything. These past two years, I have been on program staff, which gave me a completely different, but equally amazing perspective. I loved getting to know all of the campers and watching the relationships between counselors and campers grow throughout the week. Seeing campers skateboard for the first time, perform at the talent show, swing on a swing set for the first time, meet their favorite celebrity, or make a new best friend are some of the moments that keep bringing me back every year. Dream Street creates an environment where every camper is celebrated, included, and loved exactly as they are. A place where kids with disabilities can be just kids.

Every year, I would hear people say that Dream Street could help you discover your passion or even shape your future career. At first, I never thought that would apply to me because I did not see myself becoming an OT or PT like most of the professional staff volunteers. However, my perspective completely changed after an impactful interaction during a difficult week as a counselor. One of the social workers spent a lot of time supporting and encouraging me, and through her guidance, I realized the kind of impact social work can have on people. That experience opened my eyes to my own passion and ultimately led me to major in social work. I hope to eventually return to Dream Street as a social worker on Professional Staff and continue giving back to a place that has given so much to me. I truly believe I may never have discovered this path, or at least not as quickly, without my time at Dream Street.

Everything I have learned at Dream Street has helped shape me into a stronger, more resilient counselor at Jacobs Camp and a better person in my everyday life. Dream Street has taught me the importance of teamwork and community. Nothing at Dream Street is done alone, and most things are better when you have people beside you. This principle also applies beyond camp and into everyday life. Dream Street will always and forever hold a special place in my heart, and I truly wish for everyone to experience their own version of Dream Street magic.