When I think back to CLTC, there are many things I remember: late-night TikToks, programs, songs, laughs, and all the new people I met. But one of the things I remember most is something so simple: Sour Punch.

At CLTC, Sour Punch was one punch on the canteen card during Chofesh. It might not sound like much, but to me, it became so much more than just a piece of candy. It became something that brought people together. During Chofesh, many people would get Sour Punch, and somehow, it always turned into a game of sharing, whether by trading flavors, using it as straws in sodas, or doing so much more! I met people who loved Sour Punch just as much as I do, and suddenly, we had something to talk about. It became a small tradition that made the days at CLTC even more fun.

What started as sharing candy turned into conversations, inside jokes, hammock hangouts, and friendships. Before I knew it, the people I was sharing candy with had become some of the people I was laughing with all day. CLTC taught me so much about leadership, BBYO, and myself, but one of the biggest things it gave me was my best friends. Looking back, I think it is funny that something as small as one punch on a canteen card would have such a big impact on my experience.

I don’t think I will ever see Sour Punch the same way again. To me, it will always remind me of Chofesh, CLTC, and, most importantly, the people who made that experience so special. Sometimes, the smallest things create the biggest memories, and for me, that was sharing Sour Punch with people who became my best friends.