“Identity, Identity! Who am I? A BBG! I am one, though only one, there’s so much I can do!” This cheer is one of the many that BBGs across the world scream together during cheer circles. For me, these cheers, or ruach, are part of what it means to be a Jewish teen. 

Ruach is such a big part of my life. Whether it's at a BBYO convention, at camp, or just in life, I consider myself a person filled with ruach. However, I don’t think I would be the same without the confidence that organizations such as BBYO have given me. For a long time, Camp Ramah Darom was the place where I had the most confidence to be as loud as I could be. However, as I’ve started being loud in BBYO I’ve learned that there are so many places where I can be my loud and true self. My favorite cheer that we do is the one I recited at the beginning of this article. This isn’t just because it's fun or catchy, but because of the meaning behind it. 

I’m sure you can imagine the empowerment by screaming those words surrounded by some of your closest friends. One memory that stands out is from the Greater Atlanta Region's spring convention, ASC. Right after separates, I sat on a dark basketball court screaming as loud as I could with my best friends. Through the darkness I could still see smiling faces, growing friendships, and the confidence within BBGs exploding. Another moment, from the same convention, we were behind schedule and rushing to our next activity, but we still stopped and cheered as loudly as we could.

Both of those moments were a sign to me that BBYO is a place I truly love and belong in. Saying the words “Identity, Identity! Who am I? A BBG! I am one, though only one, there’s so much I can do!” really helped it sink in that this was a place in which I could make another home outside of camp.

From there, I ran for and won the election of my chapter’s Mekasheret. It's a small position, but it holds a big spot in my heart. I ran for that position not because it was the easiest to win, but because I truly wanted to open the same door for other girls that was opened to me. I want them to be able to experience screaming those words as loud as they can, right next to me and their best friends.