I will never forget my time on North Florida Region’s 22nd Regional Board.

Layla, Xander, Zoe, Leo, Sophie, Benji, and Ari — you guys are my forever family. I will never forget this past year. Being able to serve on regional board with all of you has been the most rewarding opportunity I’ve ever had, and I am eternally grateful for it.

Since becoming a member, BBYO has quickly become my favorite thing on my calendar. I’ve spent my entire time immersing myself in BBYO commitments: first declaring for chapter Mazkirah and winning, then for my dream position of regional Mazkirah, and finally watching the International Board election packet drop in December. I was conflicted. My best friend, whom I met at ILTC this past summer, was going to declare for Sh’licha, and the opportunity to serve alongside her stayed in the back of my mind. Mazkirah was the position that resonated with me most, and at that time, I couldn’t see myself serving in any other role. I kept asking myself if I was ready to serve on international board. I’m the kind of person who, if I set my mind to something, will do everything I can to make it happen.

Up until 11 p.m. on the day declarations were due, I kept thinking about it. Ultimately, I chose not to declare, but that left me facing the question of what was next. Did I want to run for Regional N’siah? Regional Mazkirah again? Something else entirely? I didn’t know—I just knew I was capable of more.

In the time leading up to International Convention, I was worried that I had made the wrong decision by not declaring for international board. But when the International Board candidates page dropped, I felt oddly at peace with my choice. When I walked into Opening Ceremonies at IC Philadelphia 2026 for the first time, I was overcome with the feeling that I was somehow connected to every single person in that room.

During my time at IC, I was constantly reminded of every opportunity this organization provides. By the end of convention, I knew that Regional N’siah was what I wanted. I wanted to give girls the same feeling I had when walking into International Convention for the first time — the feeling of being part of something bigger — when they walked into a regional convention or event. I wanted to make an impact on NFR and help build the region that has given me everything.

After IC ended, I started my Regional N’siah platform on the plane ride home and poured my heart and soul into it until it was submitted. Over the next four weeks, I gave that same energy to every part of the process. Then came the Wednesday before convention, when vision statements and candidates dropped. I was in my IB Lit and Lang class when I saw the post. It wasn’t loading, and my hands started to shake. Then it finally loaded, and I officially found out that I was up against one of my close friends, who was also on regional board with me. I had always assumed she would run, so it wasn’t necessarily a surprise to me, but it made everything feel real. I kept reminding myself that whatever happened was meant to happen. 

The night before I left for SRC, I was putting my pins on my dress and could not stop thinking about what would happen. I eventually calmed down and kept reminding myself of the quote, “Everything happens for a reason.”

The night before election day, I led separates with my regional board. For me, leading separates was the thing I had been looking forward to since I got elected. Before separates, we were at Havdalah, and a group of us were talking about a mutual friend, who unfortunately slid off of their regional board. Hearing that, I started to spiral. I was freaking out. I couldn’t help but wonder if that would happen to me. I even texted my best friend, whom I met at Perlman this past summer, in a panic because I was so scared it would happen to me. 

Max, who was my first friend in BBYO, I think noticed and played a big part in calming me down, even if she didn’t know it. I had calmed down since I had to lead separates so soon. During separates, we were talking about our insecurities and how BBG had helped us overcome them.

At the end of separates, I received a text from my best friend. She reminded me how proud she was of me, how meaningful our friendship had been since meeting at Perlman, and that no matter what happened the next day, she truly believed in me and knew I had given my all. She told me to leave my entire heart out on the floor. And that’s exactly what I did.

When the results were announced, and I heard another name announced, my heart and stomach sank. In that moment, I was so incredibly proud of who won because I knew she deserved it — but I also have to be honest, it really, really sucked. I had been talking to a friend the night before elections, and I mentioned that I would feel so incredibly guilty if I ended up unsuccessful in my caucused election, because then I would have to slide. Every single person who had caucused for regional board was so incredibly qualified and would do amazing if elected. 

On election day, when I realized I would have to slide, I even contemplated dropping my slide — but that would have meant sliding off regional board entirely, which was something I did not want to do. I knew I still had so much to give to the region. I ended up sliding to Mazkirah, answering my questions, presenting my speech, reintroducing my platform, and waiting — leaving my heart on the floor.

When I heard the words, “Yes, we have been successful in electing North Florida Region’s 23rd Regional Mazkirah,” and I realized my name wasn’t said, my heart and stomach sank again. I was so incredibly disappointed. I could not believe what had just happened.

Even though I knew I still had so much to offer, for a brief moment, I felt a flicker of resentment–wondering if my hard work this past term had been overlooked. It felt like I had failed, and I was faced with the scary unknown of what would come next. That night after elections, I called my regional N’siah, and we talked for an hour. She comforted me, reminded me of everything I had given to this movement, and helped me begin to see that this moment did not define me, even if it felt like it did.

So, I’ll leave you with this: I have no idea what will come next in my BBYO journey, but I do know that if you are ever presented with the thought that you might want to caucus for any type of board, do it. Because if I had never caucused for regional board last year, I never would have experienced the most rewarding, challenging, and meaningful year of my life. I never would have found this version of myself—the one who is brave enough to take risks, to put herself out there, and to leave her entire heart on the floor, no matter the outcome.

And as May 31 approaches, and I prepare to say goodbye to the last time I will ever serve on regional board, I know that it is going to be incredibly hard. But maybe that’s a good thing. As Winnie-the-Pooh once said, “How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” And I think that’s exactly how I feel. Even though it didn’t go the way I had hoped, I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.