This journey began for me in 2016. The Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) camp changed my life and helped me to redefine my pathway. Since RYLA began this travel year, it has impacted Evan in a big way as well. But the person in my life who has probably been most impacted by my sheer love for RYLA is Kai.

Since 2016, Kai been pushed and pulled alongside me down the RYLA path. He joined Interact, attended Young RYLA, attended RYLA, and even met his girlfriend, Beau, through RYLA this past summer.

In the last few days, RYLA has strongly looped back into both of our lives. On Monday we drove up to Wyoming to visit Beau and so Evan and I could attend a meeting with her family’s Rotary Club at the Rotary of Casper. We were honored to hear Reverend Bill Pierce, an impressive veteran and eloquent speaker, talk on Black history for Martin Luther King Day. We also enjoyed exploring the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center. This day was made especially amazing when I was contacted by an old friend, Emily, who I worked with as a Junior Counselor (JC) during my time at RYLA, who let me know I will be serving as a JC at Miami RYLA in February!

The next day, Kai and Beau each received a phone call that they would be attending RYLA again this year as Junior Counselors. The excitement and pride I have for both of them, especially Kai having watched his journey alongside mine, is enormous. When Kai came home and told me, it was a highlight not just of my day but of my entire year. We spent nearly an hour looking through our old RYLA binders together as he asked me questions and we talked about our memories and experiences. I can’t wait for him to go on his JC journey this year.

Today was a quieter day as I began planning my Word of Focus speech, a required speech for Junior Counselors, and applied for a new job that I’m excited and hopeful for.

It’s been a fantastic few days as I’ve been able to focus on and think back to what truly brought me here.