RYLA is the Rotary Youth Leadership Assembly, an annual leadership development program designed to help hone the leadership potential in outstanding high school students in our area. I have served as a RYLA Committee member in District 6930 (on the East coast of Florida) for 4 years – this past weekend was my 4th RYLA!
The students lovingly call me a 'Medium Staff' Member, because Jr. Staff is made up of outstanding RYLA delegates from previous years (Jr's & Sr's in high school) and the Sr. Staff is made up of Rotarians (grown ups!). So as a Rotaractor and young adult — I am proud to be a Medium Staffer on the Committee. I am working hard to encourage more Rotaract members, young adults in their 20's, to get involved with RYLA as i feel it is very important that the students have role models/mentors they can relate to and are close to in age. Plus… I honestly believe I have just as much fun at RYLA as they do!
This year was particularly fun for me, because I got to share with the students about how my 'story' has evolved: how my love for travel & people and led me to study abroad, get involved in Rotary's service overseas, and now international missions– with my upcoming World Race trip. They were all pretty excited for me, but sad that I wouldn't be back next year (me, too!)
Every year I leave RYLA saying (just like the students do) "This year's RYLA was the best yet!" But RYLA 2012 was particularly awesome because the students bonded and opened up to one another so quickly. On Friday night during 'Pizza & Games' I noticed a circle of students playing the guitar and singing. Ss I drew closer I recognized the song: they were singing Praise & Worship! I was very impressed that these teenagers were open enough to sing praises to God in front of their peers. Not only that but the music was beautiful and the sight of them smiling and praising God was moving. I knew this RYLA would be unlike the rest. As RYLA is a Rotary program, we are always very careful not to 'officially' promote any one faith or political view — just 'Service Above Self'. But myself an avid Christian, I was inspired as I reflected as to what I may or may not have been willing to profess in front of my peers in a secular setting at 16 years old.
My suspicions (and my prayers) were answered when on Saturday after our Open Discussion, one of the Jr Staffers shared that she would be holding a Prayer Group in the next room if any of the students wanted to pray. As the students were dismissed and some headed to lunch, others to their rooms to get changed for the upcoming Pool Party, I made my way over to the next room to check on the prayer group turn out. I was shocked to find more than 40 students assembled, holding hands, and getting ready to bow heads. But not before a song of Praise. Tears were streaming down my face as I looked around the room at these young, courageous faces. When it came time for the prayer, more than 1 student offered to pray (another shocker! grown adults mature in their faith struggle to pray aloud in a group!). The student who opened up the prayer asked God to guide the future of RYLA and the RYLA delegates and to help them make this RYLA Prayer Group a tradition in future RYLAs. I join Him in that prayer 🙂
I could not be more proud of these young people, their faith, and their boldness.
God bless RYLA!
