This past summer I was chosen, along with one of my classmates to attend the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) - A "life-changing event". Now, don't get me wrong. I was extremely excited to go, but I quickly started to question how this week-long conference, compared to any other, would be "life changing". I just told myself to maintain a positive attitude and strive to get the best out of it that I could.
I was a little nervous when I first arrived, pulling up to the Westminster dorms. Not even two seconds later, my friend Lexi and I were bombarded by what seemed to be three RYLA volunteers (which we soon found out that they were camp counselors). They grabbed all of our luggage and started walking away towards our dorms. I then gave my step dad a hug, and kissed my mom, saying goodbye to each other for a very long week. I don't think I could ever have prepared myself for what would happen next. …show more content…
Everyone in my group started to open up and say what was on their mind. These people were all strangers to each other, so we didn't know anything about anyone, which made it easier to speak up.
I talked about my family and my home life, and my struggle of feeling lonely after my parents divorce, my mom's recent engagement and how I tried to be open and accepting of a new person in my life, and I also discussed my school life and the struggle to hold on to friends that kept letting me down. I loved how all of the other kids started to say some of the same things that I was saying and expressed the same thoughts that I was thinking. Knowing that I wasn't the only one who was going through tough problems made me feel connected and happy
I was a little nervous when I first arrived, pulling up to the Westminster dorms. Not even two seconds later, my friend Lexi and I were bombarded by what seemed to be three RYLA volunteers (which we soon found out that they were camp counselors). They grabbed all of our luggage and started walking away towards our dorms. I then gave my step dad a hug, and kissed my mom, saying goodbye to each other for a very long week. I don't think I could ever have prepared myself for what would happen next. …show more content…
Everyone in my group started to open up and say what was on their mind. These people were all strangers to each other, so we didn't know anything about anyone, which made it easier to speak up.
I talked about my family and my home life, and my struggle of feeling lonely after my parents divorce, my mom's recent engagement and how I tried to be open and accepting of a new person in my life, and I also discussed my school life and the struggle to hold on to friends that kept letting me down. I loved how all of the other kids started to say some of the same things that I was saying and expressed the same thoughts that I was thinking. Knowing that I wasn't the only one who was going through tough problems made me feel connected and happy