About a year ago, I made the difficult decision to stop attending the camp I had gone to for so many years in Maine. This decision, although not easy, led me to CLTC, which was the best experience of my life. For so long, I had heard the upperclassmen in my chapter talk about their experiences in BBYO summer programs and adventures, and while they had told me it would be the best experience of my life, I never expected it would really be true.

I got off my plane at the Newark airport alone. Flying from Miami was another impactful experience, as I was the only BBG from Miami going on CLTC 1.

At the airport, I was greeted by girls from Lonestar, KIO, and GAR, to name a few; little did I know that these girls would soon become some of my best friends. After bonding during the best two weeks together, making lasting memories, and forming some of the tightest bonds, we said our goodbyes and promised to visit each other during the school year.

Leaving CLTC made me realize just how important BBYO is in my life, and, consequently, I signed up for Perlman for next summer the minute registration opened. Although ten months without my BBYO family and international friends will be hard, looking ahead to BBYO Summer 2026 makes me so excited for what’s next in my BBYO journey.