BBYO events have various meanings for all in attendance. For some they are a way to stay connected to your local Jewish community and continue engaging in Jewish activities past the Bar/Bat Mitzvah age. For others, they are fun nights away from home, where you can meet new people and have meaningful experiences that you cannot find anywhere else. 

When I first started going to events in my chapter and region, I thought the sole purpose of these experiences was to meet new people and have a great time. The description and the amounts of fun I thought I would have at these events decided if I would attend. I would chat with new people, hang out with my friends from my chapter and participate in the activities that the night was centered around. Leading up to the event, I would look forward to the upcoming moments, whether it was dancing or watching a game, and constantly think about the great experiences that would occur.

Fast forward two years, and I am a junior who is on the council board that attends anything with the phrase ‘BBYO’ in it. No matter what the event entails, I register and show up with a smile on my face. This change in attitude is solely due to the friends I have made across my region. 

Living in a region that is spread out across the state of New Jersey, hanging out with my BBYO friends is not always the easiest task. With all of our busy schedules and inconvenient locations in relation to each other, spending quality in-person time with some of my closest friends can be a major struggle.

This past weekend, my region hosted a club dancing night, where we all gathered to dance and have a great time. While the DJ played good songs and dancing on the dance floor brought me joy, I spent the majority of the night just talking with my friends. Despite the blasting music filling our ears, we caught each other up on our daily lives since the last time we saw each other in person. 

You may be thinking, can’t this communication occur online, through texts or facetime, and while you are not wrong, there is something different about talking face to face. A 10 minute text chain back and forth does not do friendships the justice they deserve and allow for full conversations to be had. There is nothing better than just talking with close friends, and not caring about what is going on around you.

The next day, my chapter hosted our spring kickoff event at a local escape room. I personally hate escape rooms, but I still signed up for this event as soon as it came out. In spite of my hatred for escape rooms, I looked forward to attending to see my friends. The combination of our bi-weekly meetings and monthly events are places for me to have full conversations and make new memories with my close friends no matter what the event is.

My BBYO experience like many has undergone change throughout my years involved, and allowed me to look at events and experiences through a different light.