I have been a part of BBYO for the past three years. When I decided to join, I didn't really think much of it. "It's just an extracurricular," I thought, but it quickly grew into something more. Going to programs every week became a personal tradition, and for a while, I couldn't imagine a world where I didn't have my Wednesday nights occupied. I felt happy and fulfilled in BBYO. I felt like I was going somewhere. That was until this February.

Last term came with an overwhelming feeling of emptiness. That feeling even led me to question whether I should stay involved in BBYO. I felt lost, so I decided I was going to make it my final year in the organization.

When I applied for a summer program, I expected to get rejected. I couldn't believe it when I first found out I was accepted. I had always wanted to go to America, and being able to do it so early in my life was a dream come true.

So I made my way to Perlman without any idea what to expect. I can't even begin to describe what I saw. As silly as it may sound, the only word that comes to mind is "magic." From Kavanah to K'far, my days there were filled with the exact type of magic I needed—BBYO magic.

I thought I had to leave because I felt stuck in one place. It turns out I just needed to experience BBYO somewhere else. At ILTC, I met so many people whose BBYO fire still burned, which helped relight mine, for which I will be forever grateful.