April 2026
Mia Stanger

I went to BBYO’s Chapter Leadership Training Conference (CLTC) last summer looking for a good experience, and I found community, confidence, and a stronger version of myself. I have been a member of BBYO since Grade 8, but never really knew all it had to offer, but CLTC showed me that BBYO offers  more than I could possibly imagine. Before going, I felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. I wondered if I would fit in or make friends, but I also knew that growth doesn’t happen without stepping out of your comfort zone.

CLTC is a BBYO-run 12 day-long intensive leadership seminar for kids in Grades 9 and 10. It was an environment that encouraged honesty, vulnerability, and initiative. I was pushed to think critically, collaborate with new people, and share my ideas even when it felt uncomfortable.

What I took away from CLTC goes beyond leadership skills. Yes, I learned how to communicate more effectively and take initiative, but also how to make new friends and get comfortable with the uncomfortable. The friends I made will stick by my side forever, the lessons I learned will always be in the back of my mind, and those special moments will always make me smile when I look back at them.

This year, at BBYO’s International Convention, attended by  thousands of teens from all over the world, I reunited with all the people with whom I shared these experiences. 

We laughed and cried thinking back at all the fun we had. CLTC turned strangers into best friends. and was an experience that changed me. I can’t imagine a life without this wonderful community, and I encourage every Jewish teen to give BBYO and CLTC a chance and see how their lives will change.