When I first joined BBYO, I had no idea how much it would shape me as a leader, a friend, and a person, but along the way I learned some key lessons that made all the difference in my experience.
1. Donât join a chapter just to follow your friends
When I first joined BBYO, I thought I had it all figured out. I wanted to be in the same chapter as all the girls I already knew. But life had other plans, and I ended up somewhere completely different. Looking back, it turned out to be the biggest blessing of all.
I met my very best friends in Litzor, and I wouldnât trade those friendships for anything. Itâs easy to stick with whatâs familiar, but BBYO is all about growing, exploring, and making new connections. Trust the process. Sometimes the unexpected path leads you exactly where youâre meant to be.
2. Finding âyour peopleâ takes time
Iâll be honest, I didnât click with a group right away. After going to event after event, I started feeling so discouraged. I thought maybe BBYO just wasnât for me. But hereâs the thing: sometimes you donât find a friend group. You build one.
Through showing up, getting involved, and putting myself out there, I formed the closest circle of friends I could ever ask for. It wasnât instant, but it was worth it. BBYO taught me that good things take time, and thatâs okay.
3. Run for board (even if your friends are, too)!
I spent the weeks leading up to my first chapter election terrified. What if I had to run against my best friends? Would it ruin our friendships? Spoiler alert: It didnât!
I ran anyway, and that term on board ended up being one of the most rewarding experiences Iâve ever had. I grew as a leader, built confidence, and felt more connected to my chapter. Donât hold yourself back from amazing opportunities because of âwhat-ifs.â Take the leapâyou might surprise yourself.
4. Say yes to opportunities, even if theyâre outside of your comfort zone!
As terrified as I was to run for board, it was an opportunity that pushed me to develop my leadership skills and grow as a person, and I wouldnât have done it if I hadnât said yes to the people encouraging me to run.
Although it was uncomfortable for me, being on board was a great experience, and this inspired me to register for CLTC. Even though Iâm nervous about attending, I know that CLTC will be an amazing opportunity for me, despite the fact that itâs outside of my comfort zone.
5. Get involved in as many ways as you can!
What you get out of BBYO is truly what you put into it. Attend as many events as you can, go to conventions, and be active, because BBYO can change your life as much as it has changed mine. The more active I became, the more I enjoyed events, and this pushed me to run for board.
Being on board was such a learning experience for me, and I became even more involved in my community because of it.
I hope that these five things will help you succeed in BBYO and have the best time you possibly can! I wish I had known these before joining, and following them helped me become a better person and grow through BBYO.
Hazel Sachs is an BBG from Litzor BBG in Lonestar! She loves baking, Gilmore Girls, and all things BBYO.
All views expressed on content written for The Shofar represent the opinions and thoughts of the individual authors. The author biography represents the author at the time in which they were in BBYO.