BBYO, my forever home… something we have all heard a million times over and over again. Just because it's basic does not mean it's wrong. I mean, I also found my home in BBYO just like many of you have… but maybe my story is not as traditional.
When I heard about BBYO, I was an 8th grader coming back from one of my final years at camp, longing for more time with my best friends. I mean, I was desperate. I would do anything. And anything I did. I joined my BBYO chapter in Aventura, which had a total of 4 members, including me. A start-up chapter. This was not the wholesome sisterhood experience my camp friends didn't stop talking about…this was a MESS. Soon, the chaos turned into something I embraced, and the mess became mine. I met with the regional director and fell in love with what BBYO had to offer. Even if my chapter was not the most traditional out there, it soon became my passion.
As an official founder of Aventura BBYO, I helped apply for a charter, and we gained it! In case you were wondering… yes, I went to IC as a freshman and met up with my camp friends who helped start my journey… and it was the butterfly effect from there. I have been chapter Mazkirah twice as well as chapter N’siah. I now sit as Miami Region’s 22nd regional Mazkirah, and I couldn't be happier.
So what led me to tell my story? I'm having a bit of deja vu because I have officially submitted my second chapter charter so that we can be our very own BBG Chapter…Babka BBG. I am so blessed with my BBYO journey, as unconventional as it is, it is so truly mine. I wanted to thank my Babka Besties for helping me get through it all and helping me to create my very own forever home.
Rachel Lewin is a BBG from Aventura BBYO in Miami Region! She loves to run and has completed several half marathons!
All views expressed on content written for The Shofar represent the opinions and thoughts of the individual authors. The author biography represents the author at the time in which they were in BBYO.