My Story/college

My Story - Ted Shibata

Ted Shibata - Camp Crew
University of North Dakota

I have been involved with Students Today Leaders Forever for two years as a participant on the college Pay it Forward Tour, which happens over spring break every year.  As a participant on the Tour I've had the most amazing time building relationships, serving others and discovering a new me.

It wasn't until the end of my second Pay it Forward Tour that I considered taking a leadership role in an organization that has given me so much. It was soon after that I received an opportunity to take part in becoming a crew member for the STLF Summer Camp and more specifically, the Gap Camp.

Honestly, until the moment the leaders showed up to camp, I was terrified of what was to happen over the next few days. Luckily for me, there were 15 amazing crew members and directors there to help me gain confidence in myself as a leader. As it turned out, summer camp was possibly the most remarkable week of my life. The leaders who came from all over the country inspired me daily and helped me discover that STLF throughout the years has given me the tools necessary to lead and to build strong relationships with others. With those tools in hand, I feel that I am more than prepared for what lies ahead of me in the future.

The Gap Camp consisted of recent high school graduates who were in the 'gap' between high school and college. Let me just say that it was simply a pleasure working with the most amazing leaders who I can confidently say have such bright futures ahead of them. I feel absolutely honored that I was able to share a week with the Gap Campers and the High School leaders in beautiful Fayette, IA.

It was because of each and every person at the camp that I was finally able to experience the wonderful aspects of being a leader.  I would like to thank every leader, crew member and director from the bottom of my heart for such a life changing week and for showing me that leadership is very rewarding experience, one that I would like to pursue for the rest of my life.

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