Meditation camp
Some of the most important lessons I’ve learned in life didn’t come from textbooks — they came from moments that asked me to sit in silence with myself.
As a child, I joined a Buddhist temple retreat as part of a community charity program. We donated supplies, cleaned shared spaces, and helped prepare simple meals for visitors. But beyond the acts of giving, there was something deeper happening. There were no grades, no competition — only chanting at dawn, long hours of meditation, and the quiet sound of breath echoing through the hall.
It was the first place where I discovered that strength doesn’t always look loud. Sometimes, it looks like stillness. Bowing in gratitude taught me humility more than any lecture could. Sharing food taught me kindness without needing applause. Sitting beside strangers who said nothing yet felt connected taught me that compassion can be silent — and powerful.I walked into the temple to help others, but I walked out understanding something I’d never been taught in school
