Nickname: Maanz, Man, Mani, Mananana

Age: 25

Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia

Last Academic Institution Attended: Emory University

Academic Status: Class of 2006

About Me: I am a very silly, goofy, yet wise person.

Favorite Musical Artist: Nirvana, Jeff Buckley, Frank Sinatra, Nina Simone, Damien Rice, Radiohead, Louie Armstrong

Favorite Physical Activity: Soccer, Four Square

Favorite Pastime/Hobby: Reading, Politics, Debates, Films/TV

Favorite Quote:

“Some people say forgive and forget. I don’t know. I say forget about forgiving and just accept.”

What motivated you join IAAB’s Camp Ayandeh staff: Camp Ayandeh has been a life-changing experience for me and my family.

Nickname: Rashy/ Rashes

Age: 23

Hometown: Atlanta, GA

Last Academic Institution Attended: Georgia Tech

Academic Status: MS

About Me: I am weird. I am happy. I don’t want to hustle. I want to beat life. I have a realistic view about everything but 2 things (one of which I don’t care about). I want to feel unique and I want to make others feel like they are special. I am a helluva engineer. I want to save time. I don’t want to put a $ value on my time. I want to put $ value on other peoples time. I want all my family in a 2 mile radius. I want to live vicariously through my children. I am a little bipolar. I am fiscally conservative, morally liberal. I am not judgmental. I like everyone. I am too young to be worrying about death.

Favorite Musical Artist: Currently I am into Southern Hip Hop and Drum and Bass

Favorite Physical Activity: Racquetball, Squash, Soccer, Ping pong, and Arm Wrestling

Favorite Pastime/Hobby: Analyzing people, wearing my hoodie up, math, hokm

Favorite Quote:

“Work smarter, not harder.”

What motivated you join IAAB’s Camp Ayandeh staff: Arash loves the kids.

Age: 24

Hometown: Los Angeles, California

Last Academic Institution Attended:University of California, Berkeley

Academic Status: Class of 2012 for law school

About Me: This text box cannot do my multi-dimensional character justice!

Favorite Physical Activity: Tennis, Ping Pong, and Frisbee

Favorite Quote:

“The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value.” –Thomas Paine

What motivated you join IAAB’s Camp Ayandeh staff: It has always been my desire to help inspire the next generation of Iranian-Americans to become the future leaders of our community, and Camp Ayandeh plays an essential role in fulfilling this desire.

Age: 18

Hometown: Moorestown, NJ

Last Academic Institution Attended: Drexel University

Academic Status: Freshman in college majoring in Biology

About Me: I am an outgoing, social girl who loves to be spontaneous and “enjoy the now.” I was the girl in high school that was friends with every group of people, which means I can generally get along with most people. That doesn’t go to say that I have a wavering personality. As a matter a fact, I am very firm when it comes to my values and morals; however, I am also open-minded and take the time to listen to the perspective of others. I have been told that I am a good listener, and I hope campers at Camp Ayandeh find that they can confide in me if they should have any troubles.

Getting an education is very important to me. As a Biology major, I aspire to attend graduate school in pursuit of a PhD in Genetics. This summer, I will be working at a research lab at Temple University when I get back from Camp Ayandeh. Given that Iranian-Americans are the most successful minority in the United States, I have made it my personal goal to make sure that I am part of that statistic and keep it alive:)

Favorite Quote:

God grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And wisdom to know the difference.

What motivated you join IAAB’s Camp Ayandeh staff: I’ve grown up in a family that embraces the Persian culture. My best girlfriends and I are Persian, and we really take pride in out background. So many of our jokes and memories revolve around our culture. For that reason, we love being Persian. I intend to share my stories and experiences with others and hopefully influence campers to be just as proud of being Persian as I am.

Nickname: Maz

Age: 19

Hometown: San Diego

Last Academic Institution Attended: University of California, San Diego

About Me: I was born under the mountains of Alborz in a normal family, with normal friends, and with a normal life. However, all that changed when I moved to the U.S. when I was 12, nothing was anymore but everything was still great. I consider myself as an Iranian American because I understand the Iranian Culture while embracing the American culture as well.

Favorite Musical Artist: GOOGOOSH, Farhad

Favorite Pastime/Hobby: I love to draw

Favorite Quote:

“Eyes shall be washed, they shall see differently” -Sohrab Sepehri

“Cheshmhara bayad shost joori digar bayad did”

What motivated you join IAAB’s Camp Ayandeh staff: IAAB’s Camp Ayandeh was the highlight of my summer 2 years ago, it thought me life lessons that I use on a daily basis and I wish to be a part of it this year and have an influence on a student like my counselors did on me.

Nickname: T-

Age: 19

Hometown: Trumbull, CT

Last Academic Institution Attended: University of California, Santa Barbara

Academic Status: Sophomore

About Me: I moved from Connecticut three years ago and now live in Danville, California. I’m a Biology major. I love watching movies- my favorite is Slumdog Millionaire, learning different languages, and I’m very close to my family.

Favorite Musical Artist: Keane

Favorite Physical Activity: Hiking

Favorite Pastime/Hobby: Listening to music

Favorite Quote:

“There are millions of people in the world, and the spirits will see that most of them, you never have to meet. But there are one or two you are tied to, and the spirits will cross you back and forth, threading so many knots until they catch and you finally get it right.”

What motivated you to join IAAB’s Camp Ayandeh staff: I was a camper at Camp Ayandeh for the past two years and I absolutely fell in love with the experiences I had. I learned so much about myself and gained so many valuable friendships. Becoming part of the staff is my way of giving back to IAAB and helping other campers have the same amazing experience I had.

Age: 18

Hometown: New Canaan, CT

Last Academic Institution Attended: The George Washington University

Academic Status: Sophomore, Undergraduate

About Me: I study English at The George Washington University and am also pursuing a minor in music. My dream job is to be a Crime Scene Investigator but I am content with pursuing my more realistic goal of becoming a lawyer. I am a pianist of 14 years, a fashion magazine journalist, a Special Olympics and Red Cross volunteer, an avid tennis player and I love to draw, paint, read and write. I perform on a Persian dance team at my school called Aatash and I am also a member of GW’s Co-ed Pre-Law Fraternity, Phi Alpha Delta, and PR Director of the Iranian Cultural Society.

Favorite Musical Artist: Keri Hilson, Beyoncé, Lady GaGa, Britney Spears, 50 Cent, T.I., Lil’ Wayne, Mayday Parade, Taylor Swift, 3OH!3, Ne-Yo, Jason Mraz, Pitbull, Nancy Ajram, Arash, Beethoven

Favorite Physical Activity: Dance, Tennis

Favorite Pastime/Hobby: Painting landscapes, writing poetry, playing the piano, playing tennis, dancing and singing.

Favorite Quote:

“Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it’s better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.” – Marilyn Monroe

What motivated you join IAAB’s Camp Ayandeh staff: Having attended IAAB’s camp for three years, I understand the invaluable lessons the camp offers its participants. I, personally, gained confidence, great friends, and amazing experiences that assisted me in gaining a deeper level of understanding and appreciation for my dual identity, as well as bringing me closer to the Iranian-American community I so desired to find a place in. I expanded my knowledge of Iranian culture and determined what being Iranian-American meant to me personally through cultural, creative, physical and academic activities. I joined IAAB’s Camp Ayandeh staff team because I hope to make the same positive impact on the lives of Iranian-American youth attending Ayandeh this summer and with the help of the rest of the camp staff I look forward to creating an enjoyable, inspiring and life-changing week for campers.

Age: 18

Hometown: Sacramento, California

Last Academic Institution Attended: Santa Clara University

Academic Status: College Sophomore

About Me: I’ve lived in California all my life, and love it here. I have a twin brother, Saba, a former camper, who attends UC Berkeley. I’m a staff member at my University’s well-recognized literary and art magazine. My passions are my friends, meeting new people, and being Iranian, obviously!

Favorite Musical Artist: Coldplay

Favorite Physical Activity: Frisbee

Favorite Quote:

“Live to the point of tears.” –Albert Camus

What motivated you join IAAB’s Camp Ayandeh staff: Camp was so inspiring to me, I want to help IAAB as well as make a difference in the lives of new and returning campers. The goal of the camp, to unite country’s Iranian Americans, is something I strongly support. So what better way to show that support, than to join camp staff?

Nickname: Dontrell

Age: 19

Hometown: Woodbury, CT

Last Academic Institution Attended: Northeastern U.

Academic Status: Rising sophomore (Tufts U.)

About Me: Like a boss

Favorite Physical Activity: SOCCER

Favorite Pastime/Hobby: Video games, reading, drums

What motivated you join IAAB’s Camp Ayandeh staff: I think there were two main catalysts in helping me join Camp Ayandeh’s staff. One was being able to experience the cultural enlightenment from a point of view that is opposite to what I have grown accustomed to (in other words, seeing how time and role change can influence my learning experience when I make the jump from camper to staff member). The second was to keep close ties with the peers and mentors I’ve grown to truly appreciate as some of my dearest friends.