If you want to hear my full BBYO story, you can talk to me

If you want to hear my full BBYO story, you can talk to me personally. Instead of writing out pages about my experience, I’m
keeping this short and hoping that you’ll read it all and take from it what you can.
The top three things that BBYO has taught me are as follows:
It really is as simple as that. Be yourself, love yourself, and find people that love you too.
Guess what—people will doubt you, people will try to discourage you, and people will think you’re crazy for having
big ideas. When this happens, you can A) find new people to work with, or B) embrace the fact that they’re
underestimating you, and use it as an opportunity to blow their minds.
If I had listened to all the people that ever told me my ideas weren’t possible, or too big, Operation: Globalize
Eastern never would have happened, the Global Geek Frockets never would have been made, my chapter wouldn’t
have raised as much as we did for ISF last year, the Frat Is Back Frockets would have been regular and boring tshirts, and I never would have raised the money to go on a single summer program.
Someone tells you that your goal is too big? They’re wrong. They’re just thinking too small.
It is so easy to hold a position and just fulfill your basic duties. If you just follow the path that has already been
paved for you, you can make sure that the body you’re leading survives throughout your term, and hey, holding that
position may help you win the next election! But that’s also SO boring and not the point.
Whenever you acquire a new position, whether in or out of BBYO, your work should set a new standard for what
the position entails. You should strive to make the most out of the opportunity you’ve just been given, and use BBYO
as a tool to make a great difference in the world.
So open your mind, think big, and dare to be extraordinary.
Meeting and befriending you when I joined BBYO is what first sparked my interest for the International Order. I saw the
way you spoke with such poise and carried yourself with great elegance, and I wanted to be the same. Following that
spark was the greatest decision I could have made, as I have come to find a home in the International Order, so I thank
you for inspiring me to aim big and go far.
You were the best MIT momma ever. Thank you for being my friend even when I was an awkward little freshman.
CLTC opened my eyes to a whole new world: one in which I wasn’t only accepted, but cherished and loved by people
who shared my interests. The two of you made a point to get to know me personally, and that has made more of an
impact on me than you could ever know, and I feel honored to know and be friends with the two brilliant and wonderful
people that you are. Thank you for being my role models and inspiration.
The greatest thing you have taught me is how to stay true to yourself and be proud of the person you are. It can be
difficult to be in a place where you’re not greatly appreciated for all of your positive qualities, but only the strong and the
brave can make it through those times until they reach the place that they are destined to be. Thank you for your
bravery, your friendship, and your ability to always stay true to yourself.
You were such great role models for me, and being at Perlman without you there won’t be the same.
I really just think you’re super cool and extremely talented, and I’m looking forward to becoming friends with you at
Perlman this summer! Thank you for helping me solve my font problems.
What happens when you take five girls, each equipped with the drive and determination to make a great difference, and
put them on BBG’s International Board? You get a force to be reckoned with, an unstoppable team that will work
tirelessly until expectations have been exceeded, and a family of strong, intelligent women who will support each other
as they blow you away with all that they accomplish. I could not have asked for a better board. Each one of you has
inspired me, motivated me, and changed me, and I am much better for knowing you. I love you with all of my heart, and
gaining your friendship has been my greatest accomplishment this year.
Many believe that a good leader is one who shows no fear and is completely in-control 100% of the time. You have
proven that a GREAT leader is one who becomes involved in the goals of her team members, and supports them not
only with their work issues but with life. I feel blessed that I was able to get to know you this year and gain your
friendship. You never cease to inspire or amaze me, and I am so thankful for all that you have done for us this year.
You are the kind of person who places others’ needs before your own, and you care so genuinely and deeply for your
friends’ happiness. I’ll never forget the moment at CLTC when my chapter was $20 away from our goal of $400 for our
Stand UP fundraiser, and you found such joy in helping us reach it. Your selflessness, and the joy you found in helping
us, convinced me that you would be a friend for life.
You are such a joy to have around, and your determination to excel has inspired me so much this year. My favorite thing
about you is how you are able to so easily connect with other people; your bubbly personality, contagious laugh, and
enviable sense of humor have made you a role model of mine. I can only hope that I’ll get to keep you in my life for a
very long time, because you are such a valuable friend that I could never in a million years think to give up.
BONI!!!!!! Oh, my little concussed co-Perlman-coord, I can’t explain how happy I am to have you as a friend. You are the
perfect combination of sweet and sassy, and befriending you this year played such a large role in making this year great.
I admire you so much for how you were able to survive Jonah’s shenanigans (love you, Jones), and still work with him to
reach every member with your initiatives. I can’t wait to spend those two days with you at Perlman in the best Boni
reunion ever!
Before this year, I barely knew you guys, and now I consider you to be some of my greatest friends. While you’re all very
different, together you formed a great, sassy, personable, and strong team. I cherish my friendship with all of you, and I
couldn’t have asked for a greater group of guys to work with.
I didn’t know what to think of you at the beginning of the year, to be honest. Quickly, though, I learned that you had the
kind of spirit that was essential to making our term a fun one. You’re wonderful, and I’ve loved becoming friends with you
this year, but I think the best part of befriending you and working with you was getting to meet your incredible Mother.
Peace, love, mamma Perlen.
You are my favorite poodle in the entire world. Your calm attitude and ability to speak clearly and comfortably under
pressure are what I admire most about you, and watching you work this year has definitely made me into a better leader
and team player. Thank you for being the music guru of the bunch, for being a source of serenity in times of insanity, and
for always being willing to lend an ear.
Alex!!!!! The first thing Mica Laber told me after elections was that I had to love you and take care of you, and I hope I
made her proud. Every time I talk to you I smile, and you’re definitely one of my top five favorite iboard boys. Remember
when we cuddled on the shuttle to August XX and you fell asleep on me? I do, and it was the cutest thing ever because
you are a baby and you are so cute and I love you with all of my heart. Thank you for being wonderful.
You are crazy. Your British humor, your mega confidence when it comes to the ladies, and your need to cause
shenanigans wherever you go have made you such a beautiful addition to this board. I am so glad that we got to go on
A2B together, where I was able to see you in action and get to know you as the goofy, but loving and caring friend that
you are. Living in the same country as you next year will be awesome, and I hope that you’ll be able to find some time for
me while you’re defending the homeland!
Oh my, how far we’ve come, coco. From being mere acquaintances that tried to bond over the love we had for our
mutual friends, to struggling to find a way to work with each other’s strengths and weaknesses, to forming such a deep
friendship that my day feels off if I don’t talk to you at least once, I am proud to say that you have become one of my best
friends. Being “Cutest Cos” doesn’t just mean that you and your Co look good together (although we do), or that you are
good friends (although we are), it means that you have learned to genuinely love your Co, and appreciate them for all of
their good qualities and bad ones. You have brought out the best in me this year, and you’ve taught me patience, trust,
and the true importance of friendship in a work relationship. You’ve supported me through all of my crazy ideas and
obsession with wanting to make a difference, and every time that things went wrong, you have gracefully held your
confidence. Our ILTC babies are so lucky to have you as their AZA coordinator, and I know that they’re going to love you
as much as I do. Thank you for everything, I couldn’t have asked for a better Co.
Jeisman! I am the luckiest BBG in the entire Order, and that is because I have been fortunate to have YOU as my
BBYO-Adult-Person-Staff-Thing. There is not a soul in BBYO who doesn’t adore you, and that is due to your incredible
guidance and leadership skills, brilliant mind, and great sense of humor. I cannot recall a single time this year in which
you told me “No”, or that one of my ideas was “too big”. Rather, you have encouraged me to pursue all of my ideas and
have helped me turn them into realistic goals. With your support, guidance, and great wisdom, our team has had an
incredibly successful year, and the Global Jewish Community is stronger now more than ever. Thank you for being you,
and thank you for believing in us.
It was a tough fight to get you as our GNC chair, as you were very well sought after, my friend. Your brilliant ideas, tech
savviness, ability to befriend and connect with almost anyone, and great leadership skills have made this a
groundbreaking year for the GNC. Together, we have changed the way people view our global Jewish community, and
we have welcomed so many more teens into our giant family. I know that you will continue to make a great name for
yourself in the world, and I look forward to moving to Maryland in the future so that I can elect Joe Vogel as my senator!
Thank you for pushing me, teaching me, inspiring me, guiding me, and believing in me as I worked towards some pretty
crazy goals. You have all played such a large role in making me who I am as a leader today, and I plan to stay in touch
with you after graduation and continue to learn from your wisdom.
Thank you for believing in BBG and AZA, and for understanding just how much teenagers are capable of. Under your
leadership, I know that the future of BBYO is bright.
You have helped me more than you know. Without your hard work and commitment to helping teens go on programs, so
many of our leaders wouldn’t be as great as they are today.
You have always been 100% real with me, and have shown me such love and support even in my most difficult times.
You are never afraid to voice your opinion and stand up for what you believe in, and your ability to face your problems
with bravery and grace are two of the things that I admire you most for. Thank you for loving me, for being a shoulder for
me to cry on, for caring so deeply for my happiness, and for being my friend. I will always be here to do the same for you,
and I only hope that our friendship stays as strong as it is well after graduation. I love you with all of my heart, Dana.
The two of you have shown me what it means to love a friend for who they are, in good times and bad. When you’re
happy, I’m happy. When you’re sad, my heart hurts for you. I know that we will see each other again, because our
friendship is much too special to lose.
My favorite Eastern seniors. This year with you guys has been incredible, from MIT/AIT, to Not Trainer Weekend, to the
senior fun at Regionals. Love you guys with all of my heart.
Thanks for being my best Charlotte people. I know that your CLTC kids are going to love you, and that going to kill it at
Wash U and NC State next year. Come visit me in the holy land.
BBYO gives you a home filled with people who care about you and support you. I was lucky enough to find a home with
you all, and I feel honored to be your friend. Let’s stay friends for a long time.
We have set a new standard, my friends, and I hope that next year’s GNC can build upon all of our hard work and further
advance the global Jewish community.
Thanks for taking care of me when I was sick and a total zombie at the Kibbutz on ILSI. I’m not sure that anyone else
would have put up with me as well as you guys did! By the way, Joey, I still can’t get over how beautiful your boyfriend is.
I will never forget how you offered to carry my suitcase up the stairs at the Stand UP and Rebuild Summit. It was a small
act of kindness, but it definitely made an impression, and from it you have gained a friend who will always be there if you
ever need anything.
I have no idea how our little group started, but I am so happy that it did. Thank you for being awesome.
You all went above and beyond this year, and successfully redefined the role of the M’GOSK in your region. You have
made me proud to be your counterpart, and your work and dedication has proven to me that our Order is strong. Thank
you for all of your hard work and dedication.
“Even the wise cannot see all ends… he has some part to play yet, for good or ill, before the end…” – Gandalf
I really hope you’ll come visit me whenever you’re in Israel, and that we’ll stay friends for a long time. See ya in the holy
land, brutha!
You people have such a strong passion for BBYO, and your spirit and determination to improve our Order will definitely
pay off. Thank you for reassuring me that BBYO is in good hands.
Thank you for being the best baby sisters I could ever ask for. I’ve loved watching you both as your love for BBG, your
confidence, and your determination to make an impact grew. The two of you will lead Chai Chaverim to greatness, and
you will turn it into the loving home and powerful force I know it can be.
You are two of the most amazing girls I know. Your creative minds and ability to step up to the plate and take initiative
whenever something needs to be done is such an amazing quality that you share. I was so lucky to have you two as
counterparts, and I hope that you’ll still contact me whenever you need advice or just want to chat. I love you both so
much!!!
You are such an inspiring group of BBGs, and I loved getting the chance to work with each of you this year, even if only
for a little while. Your BBG spark is so vibrant and beautiful, never let it fade away.
The chapter has changed so much during my four years in BBYO. Keep improving, and don’t forget just how important it
is to balance sisterhood with leadership. I hope to see our chapter make a real difference in the community one day.
RT to what Jake said in his life pages……
But actually, you’re about to embark on the craziest year yet, and while it’s going to drive you nuts, it will empower you in
ways that you never imagined. You will be stronger, smarter, and more open-minded from this experience. You will form
incredible new friendships, and you will learn to love each other no matter what. I wish you lots of luck, and I hope that
you’ll reach out to me whenever you need words of advice.
Take care of Joey for me, and make us proud.
I have met so many of you already, and I’ve been counting down the days until I get to see all of your beautiful faces at
Perlman! I know that by the time ILTC comes to an end, each of you will be changed and ready to take on any task that
comes your way, no matter how big or daunting. I am so excited to meet you, to love you, to befriend each and every
one of you, and to be changed by you. Thank you for signing up and giving me the opportunity to be with you this
summer, I swear you won’t regret it.
The 70th International Board of the B’nai B’rith Girls, the 90th Grand Board of the Aleph Zadik Aleph, the Boardpocalypse,
Palomagranate, Cindy Karyn for saving my life, bamboo, the plot twist at AIPAC, CLTC 1 2012, ILTC 2013, A2B and ILSI
2014, the incredible BBGs and Alephs of ILTC 2015, Shark Bait Hoo Ha Ha, being a mom (@benschulman), Not Trainer
Weekend, MOVING TO ISRAEL WOOOOOOOO, Perlman, the incredible friends I’ve made, Chai Chaverim BBG, this
being the craziest and best year yet, finding my home, doing my best to honor my Grandparents, the 2014-2015 Global
Networking Committee, the Global Jewish Community, Uruguay being awesome, the global geek frockets, JJYR,
embracing the underestimating, and always daring to be extraordinary,