Last year, I had a mission: to be my chapter’s next Sh’licha. Ever since joining BBYO, I knew I wanted to serve on my board and give back to my chapter as much as it had given me. Sh’licha especially called my name because I have a passion for Jewish enrichment and have loved strengthening my Jewish identity through BBYO. So running for that position felt like the natural next step, and I couldn’t wait to see what the future would hold.

After fulfilling different chair positions under Sh’licha, I felt excited and ready to run at elections. When I lost, I was crushed (despite losing to my best friend, who I was really happy for!!). While I was disappointed, I knew I still wanted to be involved in leadership. Being on board was more important to me than a specific position, because I wanted to become more and more involved in the chapter. I decided to drop down to Katvanit, and luckily, I won. Looking back now, that experience changed everything for the better.

Serving as my chapter’s Katvanit has been so rewarding, and such a great experience. Being a board member has shown me the inner workings of planning successful events, increasing recruitment, and promoting within the chapter. I feel more connected than ever to my chapter, and it’s meaningful to know that my work contributes to its success. I especially love meeting new people, building relationships with younger members, and helping events run smoothly. 

At first, I was nervous about taking on this role because I had little experience with designing newsletters or creating content online.  Each month, I get the opportunity to create a newsletter that recaps our events and keeps our chapter informed. I’ve grown to love the creative process and have learned so much along the way. I even work with two newsletter chairs, and it has been really special to work with and mentor them. Overall, serving on board has been a unique and incredible experience. While I didn’t end up in the position I originally envisioned for myself, I couldn’t be happier with how things turned out. Being Katvanit has taught me creativity, allowed me to give back to my chapter, and shown me new opportunities, and for that, I will always be grateful.