Running for a high position on board can be intimidating, especially when it’s your first time running for board at all. I’m Lina Gozlan from Simchat HaDerech in Gold Coast Region, and running for S’ganit for the first time was definitely a big step outside of my comfort zone. It’s one thing to want to get more involved in BBYO, but it’s another thing to put yourself out there and go for a position that comes with so much responsibility.

When you’re running for a position like Sganit, it’s easy to question and second- guess yourself. You might look at people who have already been on board and think they have so much more experience than you. You start questioning whether you’re ready or if you should wait until you have more experience. But I realized that if you always wait until you feel completely ready, you might miss out on opportunities that could change you as a person. 

One of the things I love most about BBYO is how much it can mean to someone. I know how important it is to feel included, to have people who make you feel welcome, and to have a chapter that you genuinely look forward to being a part of. That’s part of what makes leadership so meaningful to me. It’s not just about having a title or being able to say you’re on board. It’s about making a difference in your chapter and helping other people have the kind of experiences that make them love BBYO just as much as I do. 

Running for S’ganit also made me realize that you don’t need years of board experience to have something valuable to bring to the table. Everyone has to start somewhere, and there’s no reason your first time running for board has to mean thinking small. Being new gives you the opportunity to bring fresh ideas, learn from the people around you, and figure out what kind of leader you want to be. You don’t have to know everything on day one. You just have to be willing to learn and put in the effort.

Of course, putting yourself out there can be scary. There’s always the possibility that things won’t go exactly how you’d hoped, and it can be hard not to compare yourself to other people. But I think one of the most important parts of leadership is being willing to take that chance anyway. Even just having the confidence to run for something you really want is something to be proud of.

You shouldn’t let being “inexperienced” stop you from going after something you care about. Whether you’re running for S’ganit, another chapter board position, or a regional position someday, don’t convince yourself that you have to wait for the perfect moment. You learn by doing, and sometimes you have to take the risk in order to learn, and realize it’s also okay to fail. 

At the end of the day, BBYO is about more than positions and titles. It’s about the people you meet, the memories you make, and the impact you leave behind. If there’s a position you’re passionate about, don’t count yourself out just because it’s your first time. Take the chance, believe in yourself, and see what happens. You never know what you’re capable of until you give yourself the opportunity to find out.