By Jacob Gurvis

It’s always exciting for me to meet people living my dream as professional journalists. As an aspiring journalist myself, I get starstruck by a very different group of “celebrities” than most young people.

Yesterday, I was starstruck by Pulitzer-Prize winner and Eisner alumna Jodi Kantor. Kantor was here as the keynote speaker at the annual Eisner and Crane Lake Camps Stakeholders Assembly, and I had the honor of hearing her speak and meeting her afterward.

During her question-and-answer session, Kantor spoke about a wide range of topics, from growing up at Eisner to covering the Harvey Weinstein scandal for the New York Times. I loved having the opportunity to learn more about Kantor’s career, and I was inspired by the incredible work she has done to make our country and world a better place.

As a lifetime camper and staff member at Eisner, one aspect in particular stood out to me from Kantor’s story. While she joked that nothing at Eisner led directly to a career as an investigative journalist, she reflected on the ways in which Eisner instilled in her a strong sense of social responsibility and morality that did lend themselves to journalism.

“I think the thing that Eisner did for me, that is connected to the person I became later, is that Eisner had a kind of level of social consciousness that I had never experienced in my life,” she said. “There was this set of programming devoted to really challenging the way you thought about the world that was incredibly sophisticated, you know, relative to what was out there for 11-year-olds.”

I couldn’t agree more. Of all of the various programs, Jewish or otherwise, that I have experienced, none have more poignantly or effectively taught me the importance of making the world a better place than Eisner Camp has over these past 18 summers. While I also cannot say my love of journalism came directly from camp, I am confident that my interest in social justice, politics, and advocacy all did.

Another topic that struck me was the struggle Kantor described regarding staying informed at camp. On the one hand, there is something wonderfully refreshing and calming about being in the Eisner Bubble. Having the ability to disconnect from the chaos of the world for a couple months every summer is a unique and cathartic experience. On the other hand, being unplugged can be terrifying. Especially with so much news breaking seemingly every hour, it feels wrong to ignore the headlines and alerts. As someone who loves reading the news on a daily basis, it feels strange to be out of the loop.

While there is of course no right solution to this challenge, I have been doing my best to strike a balance. I try to remain aware of the bigger stories and more important events, while refraining from checking social media or the news incessantly. That way, I can both get my news fix and feel informed, and also enjoy the peacefulness and quietude of the Bubble. I encourage everyone to find what works for them, and be sure to find the right way and time to unplug, even if just for a moment. It’s worth it, I promise.

All in all, I found Kantor’s story engaging, inspiring, and thought-provoking. While I enjoy hearing any journalist share their journey, to learn from and meet one with such a similar background as my own was even more meaningful.

Now that I have returned to Eisner as the camp blogger, it feels as though I have combined my passion for writing with my love of camp. As Kantor said, “Eisner is pervaded by the sense that there is a right way and a wrong way to treat people, and I think this is a place that prizes kindness and decency in a way that feels very special.” She hit the nail on the head yet again.

Kantor has certainly found her outlet for fighting for what is right, and she already has an amazing legacy. I can only hope to one day have a fraction of the impact she has had on journalism, America, and the world.

Jacob Gurvis is a rising junior at Boston University, where he is a Journalism major and a double-minor in Political Science and Jewish Studies. He spent the first half of this summer participating in the Machon Kaplan summer internship program at the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism in Washington, DC. Now back at Eisner for his 18th summer, he is the camp blogger.