They say you should "keep your friends close and your enemies closer," but BBYO never gave me a manual for what to do when your best friend and your “rival" are the exact same person.

This past year, my best friend and I did the unthinkable: we both ran for Chapter N’siah. We both knew that after serving on boards in the past, we were ready to take on this next step. The election happened, and my name was called. In an incredible display of grace, she "slid" to Shlicha. For a second, things were awkward. We didn’t talk as much as we used to, but we silently acknowledged each other and allowed each other some space.  Watching her pivot from her N'siah dreams to becoming the heart and soul of our chapter’s Jewish heritage and community service was the most inspiring thing I’ve ever seen. It taught me that a title doesn’t define your impact; your character does.

Looking back, that tension shaped me more than the actual victory did. It taught me three things:

1. Ambition isn't a betrayal. Wanting a position with your whole heart doesn’t mean you want your friend to fail; it simply means you have a vision you believe in. When we both stood for N’siah, it wasn't about one of us being better. It was about two people who cared so deeply about our chapter that we were both willing to put our hearts on the line for it.

2. Grace is a superpower. Seeing my best friend kill it as Sh’licha taught me how to lead with humility, proving that the strength of a leader isn't measured by the title they want, but by the passion they bring to the role they have. It showed me that true leadership is about showing up for the chapter and your sisters, regardless of which seat you’re sitting in at the board table.

3. Silent bonds exist. Those days of avoiding the one thing on both of your minds create a strange, unspoken resilience that only another BBYO leader could understand. It proves that your connection is built on something much deeper than just shared interests. It's built on a mutual understanding that remains even when the words are temporarily off-limits.

Fast forward to today… the chapter gavel is about to be passed, and we’ve moved on to bigger stages. We were both just elected to our dream positions on Miami Region's 23rd regional board!! Me as Morah, and her as S’ganit!

Our friendship today is the same, but different. It’s deeper. We’ve traded the nervous silence of chapter elections for literally being with each other every day. We’ve gone from "rivals" to a team, proving that the best way to lead is with your best friend by your side.

The Moral of the Story is: Don’t be afraid to run toward your dreams, even if your best friend is sprinting right next to you. If you’re lucky, you’ll both end up exactly where you’re supposed to be.

So to my best best friend, thanks for being my toughest competition and my greatest teammate. We finally reached our dreams and made our younger selves proud… let's go make history!