Everyone, and I mean everyone, always tells you “go on a summer program, it's the best time of your life.” And as someone who had spent years at a sleepaway camp with friends who were great, until they weren’t, I did not believe it. But, I had nothing to do all summer, so I figured that I should try it. Worst comes to worst, I didn’t love it, and that would have been fine. That was just so far from the truth, I did have the time of my life, and I met my best friend.

We both got put on the late bus, me because my mom and I were driving around looking for dramamine, and her because she had gotten lost in the airport. So, we were both in the airport, going on bus 2, which had to wait for people whose flights had gotten delayed. We sat and played cards and listened to music, and it was a really great start in getting to know everyone.

Day 1 was stressful, and so scary, but on day 2, everything was calmer, and by then, I was calmer and actually had the chance to meet people and make friends. So, on day 2 of CLTC, I created a bond that will genuinely last forever. Throughout those last ten days, we just became closer and closer, CLTC gave us that experience.There was so much time to create these bonds that I did not expect were actually made, and everyone just wanted to make friends. And, it felt like we had all the time in the world together.

Now, 5 months later, I talk to her almost every day, and I know everything about her life, and she knows everything about mine. With over 1,100 miles between us, we have become nothing but closer in spite of our distance. There are days where we just sit on facetime for hours because today, that is just what we need. When we need each other, we are there. There is something so unique about the bonds you make in BBYO, because most people don’t get that. That is what makes it so perfect, because, this is different, our friendship is one formed through a movement started almost 100 years ago. And, even though it is hard to live 1,100 miles from your best friend, I would take it over nothing at all in a heartbeat.