Arguably, the best meal at CLTC was the deli sandwiches we ate on Saturday afternoons. But beyond the taste, those sandwiches came to represent what the CLTC experience was truly about.

The introductions at the airport were like the bottom slice of bread. At the time, it may have felt like meeting a random, disorganized group of strangers, but those first moments laid the foundation for everything that followed, just as every good sandwich starts with a sturdy base.

Leadership training, especially through mock chapters, was the meat of the sandwich. For the record, I chose turkey every Saturday. Our planning sessions, the camp-wide programs we created, the top ten lists and decisions made during business meetings, and the way we reflected during debriefs, all of this formed the structured part of CLTC. This was the part that gave the sandwich its weight and purpose.

The leadership training that made CLTC meaningful on paper turned out to be the most important part of the sandwich. It was the condiments that brought the whole thing to life. These were the ingredients that elevated it from ordinary to unforgettable.

To balance the flavor of the bread and meat, you need acidity like tomatoes, pickles, etc. For me, that came in the form of separates, spirit circles, and inductions. These experiences added depth and energy. From learning about life and each other, to yelling at the top of our lungs, to officially joining a global brotherhood, these moments added the necessary tanginess

As for the condiments, and maybe a few chips on the sandwich if you were bold, nothing tied the sandwich together better than simply spending time a with the people around me. Whether it was being watched by Big Brother, playing basketball, counting up from sixty-six, or a million other moments, these were the flavors that blended it all together. These were the sauces and sides that made the whole thing something to savor.

Finally, the goodbyes became the top slice of bread. But when you think about it, they are not so different from the first slice. Goodbyes and hellos are deeply connected, always leading into one another. And just like finishing the sandwich only makes you want another, this goodbye, more of a see you later, sets the stage for something bigger, just as the top slice acts as the foundation for an even better sandwich.

Fraternally submitted with undying love for my brothers and sisters I shared this experience with, big brother, big brother convention, old money, let me see your Michael Jordan, Coach Max, ABEEEEE, PAAAAAZZZZZZ, Final boss Evan, Ben, LoHo, poker, tetherball, the multitude of other things I could write here, whatever sandwich I can build next with all of you, my heart and home, Mac Miller AZA #505, and what became my heart and home, C1TC 2025.

I forever remain Aleph Jesse Alexander Vaytsman