When I was first introduced to AZA in my 8th-grade year, I, regrettably, admit it didn’t interest me as much as I wish it had. No amount of programs, fun as they were, could convince me to make the commitment to my chapter and become a more active and engaged member. The problem, at least in my eyes, was that it was a brand new space with kids much older than me; I knew none of them, and the fact was that I didn’t make too much of an effort to connect. AZA never looked like my kind of thing. I started going to events sporadically. And yet, today I’m a two-time board member who goes to every single event, and I am deeply committed to my chapter and my brothers. So how did that change? The answer came in the form of a Gamechanger Grant.
Gamechanger Grants are a unique opportunity offered to all AZA, BBG, and BBYO chapters that allow you to receive money to help plan bigger and better events that can engage all of a chapter's members without the fear of a major price tag. In the Fall Semester of my 10th-grade year, my chapter’s S’gan applied for a Gamechanger Grant and received one. The program he got the money for? A boat day.

When I saw the event promotion, I knew right off the bat it would be something amazing. The idea of chilling on a boat, even if it was with people I hardly knew, seemed great to me, so I signed up. Once I arrived, I was met with the same feeling of worry that had haunted me throughout earlier events in AZA- who were these people? Nervous, I got on the boat that our chapter had rented for the day. Soon enough, we left the dock and began searching for a wonderful place to kick back, swim, and listen to music- plus, our boat came with a mini waterslide on top, and excitement was building to try it.  We finally found a suitable spot on the lake to enjoy the boat, and everyone raced to the top deck to try out the waterslide. It was here that my nerves started to fade away (who can worry on a waterslide?), and we had a blast going down the slide, racing back up, jumping off the boat, climbing back up, and doing it all over again. Eventually, we got tired of sliding and jumping and just hung out, listening to music and swimming, and I found myself talking to people I had never spoken to before. I actually began getting to know the people in my chapter, and I was having a great time. Between the time I spent having deep conversations about music with my new friends and kicking back in the sun, nothing could go wrong. It was here that I made truly meaningful connections within my chapter, bonds that would continue to impact my decisions there even a year later.

Everyone who was on the boat that day became closer. When we got off and headed back to our normal lives, I realized how truly special AZA is; it is not only a safe space but also a break from the monotony of regular life for Jewish teens around the world. That day, I made the commitment to my chapter, and I wasn’t the only one. In time, that day led me to run for a chapter board position, attend every event, meet some of the greatest people of my life, and more, and it all would never have happened if it hadn’t been for that fateful Gamechanger Grant. A life-changing event doesn’t have to be priced out of reach. Gamechanger Grants are an amazing way to build more connected members of BBYO who, one step at a time, will become tomorrow's leaders. After all, no man is an island, and we are all in the same boat.