I joined BBYO at a very strange time in my life. In Greater Atlanta Region you can only join BBYO your second semester of 8th grade. I was given an exception because I'm supposed to be a grade higher than I am, so I joined the first semester of 8th grade. I remember my very first BBYO event was GAR’s Fall Kickoff pool party at the JCC. I was standing outside the gate alone because for the first time in my life, I was entering a space where I didn’t know anyone and where everyone was older than me. It was really scary and I remember texting my mom asking her to come back and get me, but I'm so glad she didn’t. I ended up going into the event and meeting one of my closest friends and role models, Emmy Hirschfield. When she heard we were in the same chapter and I was the new 8th grader, she ran up to me, hugged me, and introduced herself, and I'm so happy she did. She's the one who kept me coming back to BBYO. 

The first few months were really hard. I didn’t always feel accepted, especially because of my age, but slowly I realized I was overthinking it and I was surrounded by people that care about me. One of the people who surround me that cares about me is Sophie Hershkowitz. She was Greater Atlanta Region’s Mekesheret last year, and so for the first semester of me being an 8th grader and her being our Mek, I was her only 8th grader. And between her and Emmy I was convinced to sign up for Camp BBYO. Camp BBYO got canceled so I ended up being allowed to go on CLTC, and baruch hashem for that because I met some of my best friends, made memories I’ll cherish forever, and learned skills that I will use for the rest of my life. Even though I'll forever be known by the older people in my region as “the 8th grader”, this article is a sign to take opportunities, cherish every moment, and do things that are scary.