When I joined BBYO, I had no clue that I was about to meet my chosen family, the people who would change my life. Family doesn’t always have to be blood-related. Family can be the people you choose. The people who inspire you, who you inspire, and who make you feel like you belong. Through BBYO, I have found just that.

When I started BBYO, I had two friends who brought me in. I was told that I should join Tziporah BBG #2248 because that’s where my friends were, so I did. When I learned what BBYO was and started participating, I was confused and unsure whether I would fit in. I didn’t believe that there was a place where I could go and automatically have fifteen new friends who were two, three, or even four years older than me. My chapter made me feel important. For the first time, I felt like I had a group of people that I truly connected with, and it felt amazing.

I decided to start branching out in the middle of grade 9. I started talking to new people during regional programs and kept in touch with them to build new friendships, but the biggest turning point was being selected as Program Captain for LOR’s 2025 Spring Convention. I had 4 steerers, 2 BBGs, and 2 AZAs, from different chapters working with me to plan all the electives and onegs for the convention. Through this opportunity, I became really close with my team, and I now even consider some of them my best friends.

I didn’t realize how much of an impact I had made on people or how much I had grown until Spring Convention, when the seniors were giving away their life gifts. I didn’t think that I would receive too much, but to my surprise, I got a lot. Even with seniors I hadn’t been as close to, they saw me as a rising leader and believed in me. It meant so much to be recognized as an incredible leader by people who had inspired me. It filled me with happiness. I felt like I had found my place and my people, and it had built my confidence for the next day. Regional Elections. I was running for Regional Mazkirah. I was only in grade 9, and I lost, but I learned a valuable lesson. I realized then how I had built myself a family of people who were there for me and supported me. When the year started in September, I reconnected with all of my friends and realized how lucky I was to have all of these people who love and appreciate me as much as I do them.

A common phrase I hear when people ask for advice on branching out is “I just don’t know how.” That’s something I understand more than anyone knows. There are tons of ways to branch out in BBYO, and this is what I tell everyone who asks:

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1. Apply for RLN and Steering Committees

I’ve made some really, really close friends through steering committees and met so many people on RLN committees, and helped myself build new leadership skills.

2. Run for Chapter Board

It sounds so scary to think about, but running for chapter board could end up being one of the best decisions for you. It trains you for real-world experiences and teaches you how to work with other people, as well as helps you build bonds with not only your chapter board but also your whole chapter and regional/chapter counterparts.

3. Fake It ‘Til You Make It

When you see people at regional programs, be excited to see them. Act like you’ve been best friends for years. Go to them and say hi! Give them a hug and talk for a few minutes. You will make them feel loved and show them that you consider them a friend.

4. Keep In Touch With The People You Meet

After meeting someone, text them, send them a photo you took together, or even ask them for help with something. Remember things they told you about themselves and talk about it! If they told you they were going out on Saturday, text them after and ask how it was. This way, the connections you make can last and feel more personal and real.

5. Go to Regional Programs and Conventions

For some people, regional programs and conventions may be the only time to meet new people. While attending weekly chapter programs is so much fun and means a lot, to branch out to people outside your chapter, you need to attend regional events. Attending regional programs and conventions is a great way to meet new people, and they are where you can really expand your social circle.

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Branching out in BBYO was one of the best decisions I could have ever made because it left me with amazing friends who I love so much and would not be able to live without. More than that, I’ve learned how to build new relationships and keep connections with people that I probably never would have spoken to if I hadn’t chosen to branch out and take that leap of faith.