Recently, I and 37 other teens attended the first-ever BBYO Chapter Founder’s Summit in Atlanta, Georgia. This experience helped us learn how to create successful BBYO chapters so that we can help bring the BBYO movement to our communities. Through interactive programs such as community mapping and calendaring, we shared and connected through our experiences of being chapter founders.

From the minute I met everyone at the airport, I was flooded with excitement and curiosity for the next four days. Quickly, 37 strangers became friends, talking and laughing like we had known each other for years. As we drove to the hotel, you could feel the excitement and vibe of the weekend. Once settled in, we all took part in opening ceremonies led by International N’siah Joelle Abaew. Throughout the next few hours, we learned more about the BBYO movement and the community that has been around for 100 years. That first night ended with all of us teens getting to know each other and being filled with hope for the weekend.

The following day not only consisted of learning how to lead and preserve your chapter but also a pickleball tournament. We started the day with breakfast at a local JCC, then we split into groups where we created mock chapters and discussed ways to solve problems while also relating to common challenges we are all having as we step into the new. The day then concluded with a communal Shabbat, followed by an AZA and BBG traditions night where we took part in BBYO customs such as the singing of “Spirit of AZA.”

The next morning was poignant. We all took part in a Shabbat morning service where we metaphorically created the Tabernacle by making the BBYO logo. Each person was given a block with a section of the BBYO logo; they then wrote a word or two about what they bring to their community. At the end, we put all the blocks together to make the BBYO logo. This showed how BBYO is a large community, and every small thing that each of us brings helps create the movement as a whole. The service was then followed by interviews with Atlanta-based Jewish entrepreneurs, who taught us about how it's okay to be in the unknown and that we must be proud of our Judaism. It was so uplifting hearing the stories of other Jews, some who came from nothing but have built something so big and long-lasting. To relate to this experience, we took a trip to the Lego Discovery Center, where we used Legos to show how every small thing helps to make something bigger. This experience replicated what it is like to be an entrepreneur and showed us how making a chapter is just like making anything new — it takes time, and many pieces have to come together to make a good product. The evening was followed by inductions. This impactful experience brought our small group together as all of us were inducted either into The Grand Order of the Aleph Zadik Aleph or The International Order of the B’nai B’rith Girls, some even for the first time.

The final day of Chapter Founder’s Summit was bittersweet. Although I was leaving my new friends that I had just gotten so close with, I remembered that this experience had taught me so much, and if I learned anything from this, it is that BBYO is such a large community and any experience made will have a lifelong impact. I was sad to leave my friends, but I was and still am excited to see what my chapter in Upstate New York will become. I will forever cherish the memories and friendships I made at Chapter Founder’s Summit. I am so happy that I can say I was one of the first 37 teens to experience this impactful convention.