As I logged into our very first Zoom meeting for the convention's steering team, I could feel the excitement buzzing in the virtual room. We all introduced ourselves and did a fun icebreaker to get to know each other better. It was clear that we were all eager to tackle important topics as a team, but we also made sure to have a good time. The real bonding happened when we finally met in person. One of my favorite moments on zoom was when two of the guys on our leadership team changed their background to a screenshotted photo of our regional director, Jillian. Being on a call with three Jillians staring back at me was hilarious. I burst into laughter, and in that moment, I knew this was going to be a truly fun experience.

Before we knew it, we were assigned co's and given the task of creating a rotation program and writing a script. As a lover of script writing, I embraced this opportunity. We had three more calls, and then the big day arrived— Spring Convention. I was more excited for this convention than any other I had ever been to. As we arrived at the camp bright and early on a Friday morning, we, the leadership team, got to work setting up. We made colorful party hats for separates, went over our schedules, and made sure we had all the materials we needed for the programs. When the people started arriving, my confidence and excitement skyrocketed.

But then, they put me on Traffic Duty. Let me tell you, it wasn't the best position for someone like me, who's just five feet four inches. Even though I wore a bright green vest and official "traffic uniform," some parents didn't take me seriously. I did my best to direct them where not to park and which cabins to avoid, but it felt like I was going up against a parade of towering dads who were all over six feet tall.

After the energetic chapter cheers, we started setting up for the luau, which had a bouncy house, dole whip, and shaved ice. We handed out lei necklaces, and everyone danced to lively Israeli music. Then came separates, where participants got together for arts and crafts activities, and we assigned bigs and littles. We also took a moment to honor the alumni theming our program "BBG heartbeat", which was incredibly moving. Of course, as part of the steering team, we had to clean up after each event. Every night, we had leadership meetings that sometimes went on until 2 AM. By the end of the first night, I was beyond exhausted. "Exhausted" doesn't even begin to describe it—I was falling asleep on people left and right. As soon as our meeting was over, I collapsed into my bed, desperate for some rest.

BEEP BEEP. The alarm went off at 6 AM, signaling the start of another day of setting up. I dragged myself out of bed and practically threw on my makeup. Still feeling tired, I rushed to the leadership lounge and grabbed a Celsius energy drink, my lifeline for this convention. Breakfast came next, and I loaded up on coffee, hoping it would give me an energy boost. But by noon, I was crashing again, barely able to keep my eyes open. Luckily, it was time for Chofesh, a much-needed break that lasted an hour and a half. Since I had become an expert napper, I decided to use the entire Chofesh period to catch some Z's. While napping I got pillows stacked on me, a result of crashing near my peers on the leadership team. After Chofesh, we had more activities, including induction separates and the Beau Ball. It wasn't exactly a "BBYO prom", but it was a lot of fun. Despite my exhaustion, I couldn't resist dancing my heart out at the silent disco. This resulted in another energy crash, but since it was the last night, I was determined not to let it stop me. When our final meeting ended, I stumbled back to my cabin and crashed into bed.

BEEP BEEP. This time, the alarm rang at 8 AM, giving me a chance to "sleep in." I grabbed my Spring Con merch and headed out the door. We had breakfast and participated in J-Serve, where each chapter talked about their stand-up causes at different booths. It was so cool to see all the stand up causes in our region. As I loaded my luggage and stepped onto the bus, I felt proud of the hard work and dedication I had shown throughout the convention. Being part of the steering team was an amazing experience, and despite the exhaustion, it was all worth it.

Afterward, once I had caught up on a normal night's sleep (which pretty much meant sleeping the entire day and night), I reflected on my experience all together. I learned the importance of teamwork and collaboration, and how the best projects come together when everyone's voice is heard. Each person on our team played a vital role, and no one could do all the work alone. I truly believe that I worked harder than ever before, and I am so grateful for this opportunity. My hope is to someday coordinate a convention, but for now, I definitely need to catch up on some sleep.

Submitted with undying love for steering, spring convention and PWR #44, Kylee Garfield a forever proud BBG