Making friends at IC can feel overwhelming. Thousands of teens, so many new faces, so many moments happening all at once. But do you know what’s even better than making new friends at IC? Running across a convention center to hug your long-distance best friends as tightly as humanly possible.

For the past two IC’s I’ve attended, I’ve been lucky enough to reunite with some of my favorite people in the world — the friends I met on BBYO summer programs.

We don’t see each other every day. We don’t sit next to each other in class or grab lunch together after school. But somehow, through late-night calls, endless FaceTimes, and way too many Snapchat vlogs, we’re still completely in each other’s lives. We may live far apart, but we never feel far.

That’s why arriving at IC brings a different kind of excitement for me. It’s not just about the speakers or the spirit sessions — it’s about that moment. The one where you spot your person across the room. You start running. You’re screaming their name. And then suddenly you’re wrapped up in the tightest hug, laughing, maybe even crying a little. It’s the kind of joy you can’t really explain unless you’ve felt it.

Last year in Denver, right after my summer at Perlman, reuniting with my best friends was the highlight of IC. I will never forget the moment I saw my very first friend from ILTC. We both screamed so loudly that people turned to stare, and then we fell to the floor, hugging each other. It was dramatic. It was chaotic. It was perfect. And it’s a memory I’ll carry with me forever.

Finding your people at IC can take time. Reuniting with them can feel emotional and bittersweet. But going on a summer program — whether it’s Perlman, CLTC, ILTC, or Passport — gives you something so special: people across the continent (and the world) who become your home away from home.

As I reflect on this past IC in Philly, I feel overwhelmed with gratitude. I got to see the friends I met two summers ago and last summer, maybe for the last time before we all head into new chapters of our lives. That’s the hard part about growing up in BBYO — seasons change. But friendships? They don’t.

So I’ll leave you with the words that always remind me how lucky I am:

As Winnie the Pooh says, “How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”