Dear new members,
Welcome to BBYO. You have joined something truly special. A place for people to meet their best friends, discover themselves, and grow as a person and a leader. BBYO can be scary or overwhelming at first, but I promise soon you will find exactly where you belong in BBYO. You only get out of BBYO what you put into it, so here is my top 10 list of advice to make the most of your time in BBYO.
BBYO is a place where everyone can find someone. Branch out in your chapter, region, and internationally. Talk to everyone you meet and give everyone a chance. Keep in touch with the people you meet and really make an effort to maintain the friendships you build. If you try, you can find your family.
Apply for a committee, an RLN, a steering, or even run for board. BBYO is a place where I've grown as a leader and the variety of roles available to me are what helped me become a stronger, more confident person and turned into someone who loves leading. I’ve also met so many close friends through leadership and different committees I have been a part of.
Conventions and regional events are the best places and opportunities to meet people from all the chapters in your region. Some of my closest friends in bbyo are ones who aren’t in my chapter. They’re such amazing opportunities to meet everyone and branch out as well as make amazing memories that will last you a lifetime.
Ask as many questions as you want. There is no way for you to learn what BBYO is all about without asking those who were already there. Ask questions about programs, leadership, opportunities. The people you look up to are there for you, so ask them questions. They will be more than happy to answer.
Go to programs. Do leadership. Anything it takes to make yourself active. Being an active member of BBYO starts with you being an active member of your chapter and region.
Don't spend time on programs on your phone or thinking about other stuff. BBYO is a place and time for you to be able to stop thinking about school or anything and for you to hang out with your friends and set aside an hour and a half each week to ignore the rest of the world.
Say yes to everything. Run for that board position. Go to that convention. Apply for that committee. You will not regret it.
Apply or run for leadership positions, talk to everyone, do whatever it takes to grow. Going out of your comfort zone is the essence of BBYO. People change. In eighth grade when I joined I was the most quiet person, and now I’m outgoing and loud and chase after what I want. I have BBYO to thank for that.
Don't try to change yourself for other people. You will find your people in BBYO by being yourself.
What you put into BBYO is what you will get out of it. Don't waste a second of your time because the times really are so good they go so fast.
Submitted with undying love for BBYO and BBG, I forever remain,
Samara Stein, a damn proud BBG
Samara Stein is a BBG from Tziporah BBG #2248 in Lake Ontario Region #36 and is a competitive synchronized swimmer.
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.
