Bardya, 17

Now a high-school senior in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood, Bardya is beginning to think about his next steps. After living his entire life in the third largest city in the U.S., Bardya recently spent two weeks volunteering as a junior camp counselor on a Native American reservation in South Dakota. The children he cared for are growing up in extreme poverty in the second poorest county in the United States.

“Campers described having no electricity, no food at home, and many arrived at camp without clean or proper-fitting clothes,” says Bardya. “They shared stories of their homelife, and I learned their caregivers truly do not have a lot of choices when it comes to opportunity.”

Bardya and his peers spent their time feeding the kids’ self-esteem as well as their malnourished bodies. They talked about their hobbies, talents, potential, and life goals.

“Living at Camp Marrowbone gave me a lot of perspective,” says Bardya. “Kids my age and younger are dealing with so many challenges. I now know I can be a positive influence for others, and that makes me feel good.”