Separates has always been my favorite BBYO tradition. It's the one night where everything slows down. The laughter, the chaos, the busy schedules all fade into the background, and we're simply allowed to feel. It's a time to reflect, to be vulnerable, and to remember why we chose to become BBGs in the first place.

But on July 2, my CLTC coordinator, Mimi, led a separates that changed not only the way I see BBYO, but the way I see myself.

B'nai. We began the night the way many separates do, sitting together in a circle with candles glowing in front of us. Mimi asked us to do a word dump, writing whatever was on our hearts. Hopes, dreams, fears, memories, goals, anything that needed a place to exist. We folded those pages, placed them into envelopes, and wrote a promise to ourselves before sealing them shut.

Then, together, we did the first part of the BBG Heartbeat. It felt like more than hitting the ground and clapping. It felt like the beginning of something bigger, like each of us was taking our own story and weaving it into everyone else's.

B'rith. From there, we walked in silence to the amphitheater, where Mimi inducted us and placed pinky rings on our fingers. They weren't just rings. They became symbols of the promises we had made to ourselves, little reminders that growth starts with keeping the commitments no one else can see. As we sat there together, we did the second part of the heartbeat. It reminded me that while each promise was deeply personal, none of us were carrying them alone.

Girls. When we returned to the gym, we were each handed six pipe cleaner flowers and a list of prompts. Every flower had a purpose: someone who impacted your CLTC experience, someone who will impact their chapter and region, someone who made you laugh until you cried, someone you'll miss seeing every day, and two people who inspire you. As we gave away our flowers, we shared why each person mattered.

Afterward, we began the final part of the BBG Heartbeat together.

By then, I understood why we had done it throughout the night. Every activity had brought us closer, but the Heartbeat reminded us that we weren't just individuals sharing one experience. We were becoming intertwined. Every promise, every flower, every tear, every laugh became part of something much bigger than ourselves. We walked into separates as individuals, but we walked out connected in a way that's hard to put into words.

If I'm being honest, I had been struggling before that night. I felt like I wasn't enough. I questioned whether I had made an impact or if anyone would even notice if I hadn't been there.

Then people started walking toward me with flowers.

One after another, they handed me flowers and told me why they chose me. They spoke about moments I didn't even realize had meant something. In a matter of minutes, every doubt I'd been carrying was replaced with overwhelming gratitude and tears. Their words filled parts of my heart I didn't even realize were empty. They reminded me that sometimes the impact we make is invisible to ourselves but unforgettable to someone else.

I know we were supposed to keep our promises to ourselves (sorry, Mimi), but this one deserves to be shared because I hope I'll spend the rest of my life living up to it.

"Push yourself to be the best, most loving version of yourself."

I think that's what separates is really about. It's not just about one night of reflection. It's about leaving with a promise to yourself, knowing that you'll have sisters beside you reminding you who you are whenever you forget.

And if there's one thing I'll carry with me from CLTC, it's this: love is louder than self-doubt, and the people around you often see the light in you long before you do.