There's some experiences that are impossible to explain unless you’ve experienced them. ILTC is one of them. 

I arrived at ILTC excited for what was ahead, but unsure of just how much it would change me. I left Perlman with a suitcase full of dirty laundry, a phone filled with thousands of photos (and barely any storage left), and a heart that somehow felt so much fuller than when I arrived. 

The biggest thing I gained from ILTC was not a leadership lesson or a notebook full of ideas, it was the people and friendships I made. Somewhere between late night conversations, song sessions, performances from the IC band, walks around the loop, hiking up the hill to home 8, and laughing until our stomachs hurt, the strangers I met on day one became my best friends. We all came from different chapters, regions, and backgrounds, but we all shared one thing: a love for BBYO and a drive to make it even better. Those friendships are ones I’ll carry with me long after the summer ends. 

ILTC also challenged me to think differently about leadership. Leadership isn’t always about the title you hold or standing at the front of the room. It’s about listening before speaking, lifting each other up, taking initiative, and making an impact that will last in BBYO. Every program pushed me to grow, not only as a BBG, but as a person. 

This year, I won’t be serving an elected position. I’ll admit, that wasn’t the outcome I originally imagined for myself. But ILTC reminded me that my impact on BBYO isn't defined by the position I hold. Leadership is in every conversation, every new member, every program, and every person who chooses to show up for someone else. 

When I think back on ITLC, I’ll remember the little moments just as much as the big ones. The shabbat dance parties, cheering until we lost our voices, listening to the music travel through the dining hall, singing songs until midnight, inside jokes that somehow became universal, and the feeling of being surrounded by people who not understood why BBYO matters, but people who are proud to be Jewish. 

ILTC wasn’t just three and a half weeks away from home, it was a place where I found more confidence and found a new perspective on what it means to lead. It reminded me that BBYO has never been about the title you hold, it's the community we can build together as proud Jewish teens. 

No matter where this year takes me, I’ll always carry a piece of ILTC with me. And if there's one thing I’m certain of, it's that this summer didn’t just change my BBYO journey, it changed me.