2026 Camden Conference – Student Reflections

The following reflections on the 2026 Camden Conference –Today’s Middle East: Power, Politics & Players–  were gathered by Educator Erin Towns from students at Edward Little High School (Auburn), Lewiston High School, and Leavitt High School (Turner). Students are identified by school and grade only.

On Peace and the Bridge Metaphor

“When you build a bridge you need to make it with both sides. This is like peace.” (Dajani). The bridge is not being built from both sides currently in just about every conflict around the world. This Camden Conference confirmed my idea that peace in the Middle East currently is an idealist idea.”   — Junior, Edward Little High School

“It was Omar Dajani who had said ‘look at the far side of the bridge.’ This advice and his entire speech gave me comfort in knowing that there’s still solutions being developed to address Middle Eastern problems that could have good outcomes for everyone involved.”   — Junior, Leavitt High School

“Omar Dajani also made a powerful point when he compared peace builders to bridge builders — you can’t build a bridge from only one side. That idea really stuck with me because it showed that real peace takes effort and understanding from everyone involved.”   — Senior, Edward Little High School

On Seeing the Human Side of the Middle East

“Robin Wright contradicted my previous view on Middle Eastern culture, which was based only on political events. Wright’s presentation expanded my view on the Middle Eastern people, which had previously been close minded in the way that I tended to only think of the Middle East through a lens of warfare… How does the whole population feel during times of hardship?”   — Junior, Leavitt High School

“Before coming to the Conference this year, I just thought the Middle East was a crazy war zone. I did not realize there were so many more events and perspectives connected to the conflicts internally and externally in each country.”   — Sophomore, Edward Little High School

“Before this Conference, I mostly focused on the violence and groups like ISIS. But now I see that there are also leaders in the Middle East who truly want their countries to succeed and work together.”   — Senior, Edward Little High School

On Civil Debate and Multiple Perspectives

“The debate between Ethan Bronner and Omar Dajani was a masterclass of respectful debate as both represented opposing views… They waited for each other to finish, spoke calmly, and built upon each other rather than dying on their respective hills.”   — Senior, Lewiston High School

“The Camden Conference has shown me that civil and calm debate for the betterment of all included is best, and even while not agreeing with certain speakers over the last three years of my participation, I still felt that hearing their points was important to build my skills in the area of civil debate.”   — Senior, Lewiston High School

On Personal Transformation

“Personally, attending this Conference since freshman year introduced me to my best friends and brought me out of my shell… I truly could write books about this Conference how it changed me from being scared to talk to others and scared to leave my hotel room to a person who walks into the opera house and says hello to anyone.”   — Junior, Edward Little High School

“My first time I came to Camden I believed whole heartedly I was going to go into the medical field. But after the first year I found my true interest within diplomacy… Through this Conference I know how to discuss these topics and how to convey issues to people that may be otherwise too complex to understand.”   — Junior, Edward Little High School

“Hearing about [Dajani’s] time in this position made me rethink my life plans. I had planned to go to law school and become a lawyer, mostly for the prospect of having a stable life. But after hearing about Dajani’s story, the idea of becoming a legal advisor in the UN came to my mind.”   — Junior, Leavitt High School

“The 2024 Camden Conference was so inspiring that I decided that I will go to India for eight months after I graduate from high school this spring… The drive to see the world and its complexities is something that I would not have had without going to the Camden Conference at such a young age where my brain was so malleable.”   — Senior, Edward Little High School

On Education and the Next Generation

“Each year going to the Camden Conference ignites my desire to learn more about the world around me, driving me to find more sources to build upon whatever I learned at that year’s Conference.”   — Senior, Lewiston High School

“Since I want to be a teacher in the future, this experience influenced my goals too. I want to teach students not just facts, but how to understand different perspectives and care about what’s happening in the world.”   — Senior, Edward Little High School

“Real change may begin with the next generation, including us.”   — Sophomore, Edward Little High School