Nickname: Leys

Age: 22

Hometown: Centreville, VA

Last Academic Institution Attended: James Madison University

Academic Status: Class of 09!

About Me: I’m all about peace & love, I have a pretty cool younger sister, and Camp Ayandeh is by far the highlight of my summer

Favorite Musical Artist: Lady Gaga is my JAM.

Favorite Physical Activity: Dancing!

Favorite Pastime/Hobby: Traveling, photography & writing

Favorite Quote:

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams”- Eleanor Roosevelt

What motivated you join IAAB’s Camp Ayandeh staff: The campers! The summer of 2008 was my first year as a counselor & I couldn’t have asked for a better summer experience- the campers were a joy to work with and I can’t wait to return this year & see them all again.

Nickname: Rosa’s brother

Age: 18

Hometown: Sterling, VA

Last Academic Institution Attended: George Washington University  (still attending)

Academic Status: Class of 2012

About Me: Born and raised in England, so I would consider my self a light hearted chap. This has lead me to be a hardcore Man U fan. Unfortunately I don’t have a British accent, so I am sorry if disappoint you with my flawless American accent. But in a nutshell, I love people, I love helping others, and I love having fun.

Favorite Musical Artist: Lupe Fiasco/Wale/RHCP/Faramarz Aslani/Bahram/Too many

Favorite Physical Activity: Soccer/any sports

Favorite Quote:

“They’re certainly entitled to think that, and they’re entitled to full respect for their opinions… but before I can live with other folks I’ve got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience.” –To Kill a Mockingbird

What motivated you join IAAB’s Camp Ayandeh staff: After attending the camp for three years and seeing the transformation that my peers and I went through, I knew I would want to help build leaders in the Iranian-American community. It’s an opportunity to give back to the organization that has done so much for me. Also, being able to work alongside an amazing group of people.

Age: 20

Hometown: If this mean where I am currently living, then Rockville, MD

Last Academic Institution Attended: York University, Toronto, Ontario

Academic Status: Entering Junior

About Me: I enjoy real things versus fake ones, dancing versus standing still, and silence versus talking. Some favorite things include trees, rain, sun, laughing, trail mix, libraries, and music.

Favorite Musical Artist: Everything but the Red Hot Chili Peppers have a very very special place in my life.

Favorite Pastime/Hobby: Dancing, yoga, music, dancing, running to music, and knitting.

Favorite Quote:

“Life creates the conditions that are conducive to life.”

Nickname: Kisa, Kis, Nakkz

Age: 23

Hometown: Berkeley, CA

Last Academic Institution Attended: UC Berkeley

Academic Status: 2008 from undergrad, Class of 2012 for law school

About Me: I am a 23 year old female with a serious addiction to sports (namely basketball and football…Go Bears!), the US Supreme Court (I cringe even as I write it, knowing how it will be perceived), writing for fun (not fictional stories, more commentary on sports and politics), politics in general, and dancing. I teach SAT and LSAT test prep. I can’t imagine my life without imagining that I will be teaching for a long time to come. I start law school in the fall, probably at Georgetown but that’s still up in the air. I want to teach the law more than I want to practice it; I suppose that explains my interest in the Supreme Court. People are confused by the fact that the Lakers or Cal losing can actually ruin my whole day, and by my strange fascination with Supreme Court personalities. I talk a little too quickly for most people’s liking and I have an eclectic taste in music that even I myself can’t describe. I am open-minded to all different points of view and love to help whenever anyone needs help. I can be overly analytical but I try to keep that on hold when I actually need to get something done. I only get involved in things that I’m super passionate about, and IAAB is definitely one of those things.

Favorite Musical Artist: The Beatles, most 80s music (you know, New Order, Depeche Mode, Pat Benatar), Jason Mraz, Dave Matthews Band, classic hip hop (Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Nas, OutKast, J5), Augustana, Dylan, contemporary Persian music (like Hamed Nikpay)

Favorite Physical Activity: Dancing and pretty much anything that involves running around and playing

Favorite Pastime/Hobby: Watching the Lakers win the championship, exploring cities (like San Francisco), traveling to new places…reading Supreme Court cases…seriously, teaching

Favorite Quote:

“Two roads diverged in a wood
And I took the one less traveled by
And it has made all the difference”

–Robert Frost

“Anytime you see someone more successful than you are, they are doing something you are not.”

-Malcolm X

What motivated you join IAAB’s Camp Ayandeh staff: 3 years ago, I was looking for an Iranian-American organization I could relate to when I heard about Camp Ayandeh. I applied and was accepted as a counselor. That week changed my life, and now I can’t imagine what my life would have been had I not found IAAB. From there I worked as IAAB’s Public Relations Coordinator and later as the Director of the Fourth International Conference on the Iranian Diaspora. Camp Ayandeh is the highlight of our summer, and I’m so excited to share it with all of you this year.

Age: 25

Hometown: Sterling, VA

Last Academic Institution Attended: Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine

Academic Status: 3rd yr med student. Class of 2010 (Whoohoo!)

About Me: I’m always ready and excited to meet new people, see new places or try new things but at the same time I enjoy the familiarity of home, family and old friends.

I like to listen more than I like to talk.
I love to learn and am a nerd in the sense that I really do enjoy school.
I love bright blue skies, a spring breeze, summer flowers but my favorite season is autumn and rain never depresses me.
I love chai with milk.

Favorite Musical Artist: Dave Matthews Band and SANDY!!

Favorite Physical Activity: Rock Climbing (ok, I’ve only done it once) Love hiking!

Favorite Pastime/Hobby: Road tripping. If I get a free weekend, I like to explore the unexplored.

Favorite Quote:

“Even after all this time,
The sun never says to the earth,
‘You owe me’.
Look what happens with a love like that.
It lights the whole sky.”

-Hafiz

What motivated you to join IAAB’s Camp Ayandeh staff: My free time is pretty limited so when I do have some time off I like to do new things or go places I haven’t been before. Camp Ayandeh allows me to experience a new place, meet a host of new people as well as catch up with old friends.

Age: 21

Hometown: Norman, OK

Last Academic Institution Attended: Northwestern University

Academic Status: Senior in college

About Me: I’m a Spanish major with a premed concentration. I like to laugh, usually at people, and I live for awkward moments. I also love to play/watch sports and to cook.

Favorite Musical Artist: Bon Iver, Snow patrol, Aqualung, Mansour, Pooya, Ehsan Khajehamiri…anything Iranian.

Favorite Physical Activity: Ultimate Frisbee, soccer, running, basketball, any sport really.

Favorite Pastime/Hobby: Eating, mostly my mom’s food, but pretty much anything edible.

What motivated you join IAAB’s Camp Ayandeh staff: I joined IAAB’s Camp Ayandeh staff because I believe that this is an amazing opportunity for Iranian-American youth to come together for a week to learn and relate to one another. As a past counselor, I was able to observe how campers grew so much in just one week’s time and that was such an awesome feeling.

Nickname: Seppy

Age: 18

Hometown: Farmington, CT

Last Academic Institution Attended: Boston College

Academic Status: Sophomore

About Me: I love watching and making films. I’m in an a capella group and I love to play music whenever I can. I also love thinking and talking about politics and philosophy.

Favorite Musical Artist: The Magnetic Fields

Favorite Physical Activity: Tennis, Soccer

Favorite Pastime/Hobby: Playing music and making films

Favorite Quote:

Sometimes a scream is better than a thesis.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

What motivated you join IAAB’s Camp Ayandeh staff: After attending camp for 3 years, I knew I had to join the organization that had given me so much and do my best to repay what I could. It’s a great group and I’m happy to be a part of it.

Nickname: Bromeed

Age: 20

Hometown: Mission Viejo, CA

Last Academic Institution Attended: Boston University

Academic Status: Junior

About Me: Omeed Askari attends Boston University where he is pursuing a B.A. in International Relations, and is a proud member of the Chi Phi Fraternity and the BU Persian Club. In his hometown of Mission Viejo, CA, he is an active volunteer with the California Young Democrats. He is also a volunteer in the Boston community. In 2007, he assisted the staff at the Salvation Army Day Care, helped understaffed schools prepare for the new school year, and worked at a government-subsidized day care in Jamaica Plains, MA. In his first year at Boston University, Omeed was invited to IAAB’s Student Summit at Wellesely College, where he became first acquainted with the organization. The following summer, he participated in IAAB’s Camp Ayandeh, and has since been involved with IAAB. In his spare time, Omeed reads and writes poetry, keeps himself informed with international politics, repairs computers and, of course, is always involved with the Iranian community.

Favorite Quote:

“Every rose has a thorn”

What motivated you join IAAB’s Camp Ayandeh staff: Watching our youth grow and succeed. The kids are truly amazing. I have difficulty finding the words to describe the emotion that you get during camp. Rest assured you will express it via tears at least once during the week.

Age: 19

Hometown: Springfield

Last Academic Institution Attended: University of Illinois (Springfield)

Academic Status: Sophmore

About Me: Its game time and I’m ready to play

Favorite Musical Artist: Usher / Enrique Iglesias

Favorite Physical Activity: Working out / Boxing

Favorite Pastime/Hobby: Reading

Favorite Quote:

Hate is love in denial

What motivated you join IAAB’s Camp Ayandeh staff: After attending the camp for four years, its time to pass on the wisdom of past counselors onto upcoming fresh campers.

Age: 18

Hometown: Danville, CA

Last Academic Institution Attended: UC Davis

Academic Status: Sophomore

About Me: I was born and raised in the Bay Area (California), but currently go to school in Davis, Ca (farm town). I am definitely a California girl, and love the bay area and all that is has to offer. I am shy and seem really quiet at first, but get over it quickly. I secretly (not so secretly now) wish I was a hippie, and want to live in the co-ops at some point (one cool thing Davis has to offer, unexpectedly—several different co-ops). I love my friends, and realized this year how much I actually appreciate them, and how hard it is to find good friends.

Favorite Quote:

“Don’t worry, be happy” –Bob Marley.

I know that’s predictable, but it really puts me in a good mood when I need it.

What motivated you join IAAB’s Camp Ayandeh staff: I had a great experience at Camp Ayandeh for the last three years of high school and felt like it was really something I wanted to be apart of. I was really shy and quiet my first year at camp, the summer after sophomore year, but quickly opened up—it was hard not to because the staff and campers were so welcoming. I was impressed by the passion, professionality, and quality of programs (specifically camp at the time) that a group of college students carried.