Several of the students who were chosen by the mountain clubs to attend RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) at Thousand Pines camp in Crestline spoke to those clubs about their experiences.
Two students – Annalyse Garcia and Molly Gilbert – addressed the Mountain Sunrise Rotary Club (1) on April 16. Michelle French, who was a group leader at the camp, asked them questions about their experience.
Their favorite team-building activity was moving across a field on planks. They enjoyed the food and said they bonded with their groups. “We made a group chat,” Annalyse said, “and we’re still texting. I was put into a group I never would have become friends with.” Molly added it was “a really cool experience to meet these people. Everyone was so open and welcoming.”
They said the culture walk was really powerful, demonstrating how similar everyone is to each other. “It was eye opening,” Annalyse said. “It was comforting because people saw they aren’t alone. My group got into a serious discussion afterwards.” And Molly said one of her cabin members stood up with her for a similar reason. “I was able to talk with her later, help her through it.”
RYLA taught them both a lot about seeing other people for who they truly are.
Five girls spoke to the Lake Arrowhead Rotary Club (2) on April 22. They each shared one thing they learned at RYLA.
“I learned more about myself, that I’m not alone,” said Audrey Swedo. Mishel Quevedo added that she learned how to understand people from different races and age groups – “to understand one another.”
Nine Hidajat agreed: “I learned how to connect with different people. They separate you from people you know – that frees you out of your shell. I made lifelong friends.”
“I had to step out of my comfort zone,” Kaylie Serrato said. “We learned to connect with people. You learn what other people are going through.”
Zoe Brotzler added to that: “We learned to connect with people on a deeper level.”
Mishel noted that the “alumni filled you with the spirit of RYLA.”
Emily Evers – who is a student at Mountain High School – spoke to the Crestline-Lake Gregory Rotary Club (3) on April 30. She appreciated the alumni, who helped any of the campers who were struggling with anything.
Being put with other high school juniors she didn’t know “forced you to stay outside of your comfort zone. It was interesting and fun,” Emily said.
Her team, Emily noted, was not very good at teamwork – “It was a nightmare but it was fun.”
As to what she learned about herself, Emily said it was not nearly as hard as she used to think it would be to open up to people. At school, since RYLA, she has been starting conversations with people she didn’t know before.
After the culture walk – which she found difficult – Emily said she saw campers “totally open up, realizing they are not the only one.
“It’s amazing,” Emily said, “that one weekend changed my life.”
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