Ever had a dream that was clouded — even derailed — by personal doubts?

For years, I envisioned using my Cisco Time2Give volunteer hours to create a two-night nature camp at Maple Hill Lodge at Umstead State Park in Raleigh, North Carolina.

I knew such a camp could transform lives and middle school kids would benefit immensely. But personal doubts haunted me.

Would the community trust me? Would parents send their kids to my camp? What if something went wrong?

I finally threw the doubts aside and decided to take the plunge. I began planning for a summer dream camp earlier this year, in January.

My goal with the camp was simple: To utilize my Cisco volunteer hours to benefit the community, encourage kids to try new things, and give back to society. Cisco’s Time2Give makes is easier to contribute your time and talent to worthy causes. I’ve used it to volunteer for various programs like the local food bank before.

The first step was to book the lodge from June 7 to June 9. With my wife's support, I meticulously planned every detail, pushing through the uncertainty. I debated announcing the camp on social media. Taking a leap of faith, I created a flyer and shared it with friends.

To my delight, interest grew quickly, and soon the camp was fully booked.

In April and May, an opportunity arose to attend Cisco Live — our largest tech conference focused on customer networking and IT solutions — in Las Vegas from June 2 to June 6. It was a fantastic opportunity, and I would help lead a 30-minute Technical Assistance Center (TAC) technical session. But it was right before my camp began.

Despite the risks, I decided to do both.

With camp registration full, I sought volunteers among friends and parents of the campers. I received an overwhelming response. We planned activities and meals, and things began falling into place. I also organized camp T-shirt and certificate design contests.

The kids collected essential items for needy people around the world. We donated these items, along with leftover camp funds, to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. All camp activities were designed to instill a sense of community service and self-worth in the kids and show the importance of giving back.

On the day of the camp, I arrived back in Raleigh from Las Vegas at 3 a.m., slept for a few hours, and then started shopping for camp food.

Camp kicked off with various activities, including evening visits to the lake with scary stories, calm moments, and meditation and campfires with marshmallow roasting, games, and a glow stick party. There were morning runs, yoga, boating, writing skits, and creating art with natural materials.

To conclude camp, kids performed skits about social media, gun control, and volunteering. Our guest speaker shared inspiring stories about trying new things, dealing with failure, and the importance of nature and volunteering.

I learned several valuable lessons during this camp:

• Pursuing something you truly enjoy provides positive energy and reduces fatigue
• If you have a dream, dare to pursue it: With the right mindset, things will fall into place
• Giving back to the community is incredibly fulfilling and can create a ripple effect of generosity

This experience taught me the power of community service, the importance of daring to dream, and the rewards from executing those dreams.

I hope my story inspires you to pursue your own dreams and make a positive impact.

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• Cisco Corporate Social Responsibility
• Cisco Purpose Report 2023
• Careers at Cisco