Mary's Experience at RYLA

Going to RYLA was sort of a last minute decision for me. I only began to consider going when many of the people who were supposed to go ended up backing out and Jeany, our Interact president, became visibly distressed. I had also planned a few other things that weekend that I didn't want to miss; my old middle school's annual play and two horse shows on Saturday and Sunday. But after a good deal of thought and discussion with my respective adults (and a few huffs from Deedee about it being "just a play") I decided not to pass up this once in a lifetime opportunity.

Departing from school, with trusty Helen to see us off, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Upon hearing that we would be rooming with complete strangers, I was a little uneasy. But underneath that distress, a feeling of excited anticipation was stirring at the prospect of meeting new people. As it turns out, I met dozens of wonderful people from Michigan, Canada and all over the world. I met Pear, from Thailand, and girls from Germany, France, and Columbia. I got to hear an authentic Italian accent from an authentic Italian ladies man and I even met a girl who said she was from "all over". I was quite impressed and at the same time a little confused until I realized, upon hearing her say it again, that she was in fact from "Moldova".

RYLA leadership was a given quality as opposed to other camps and conferences I've been to where it was merely encouraged. They did not tell you to lead, but rather pointed you in the direction in which to lead. I realized that my voice counted and what I had to say was important to other people in my group. I found that once I stepped outside my comfort zone, every task involved became much easier. The speaker there talked about how you can either play victim in your situation or take it as a opportunity to make a change. That message resonated very strongly with me.

The values and skills that RYLA reinforced in me will hopefully prepare me for next year, being a senior at band camp, being an equestrian team captain, and being an overall "ultimate upperclassmen". What I took away from RYLA was more than anything I could have gotten from a horse show or "any old play". I am so very glad I went.

Mary Armbruster