In my past two summers, I have had the opportunity to attend two BBYO summer experiences: CLTC two years ago and, most recently, ILTC. I have to admit, I did not have the dreamy feeling of immediate connection when I first stepped onto Perlman. It didn’t arrive for a few hours, or even a few days. For me, it took almost a week.

Ironically, the moment the connection “clicked” finally arrived, my friend found me crying in the middle of a field on the phone with my mom. She didn't say anything, just slammed me into the ground with a hug, and proceeded to have a ten-minute conversation with my mom. After that, everything went uphill, physically too, because dorms were a hike. I went from feeling out of place to feeling like I was exactly where I was supposed to be. I finally understood what people meant when they said “Perlman magic.” It wasn’t about the place itself, despite the gorgeous Pennsylvania scenery, but about the people and the energy that filled it. Every conversation, every Shabbat song, and every inside joke somehow started to weave together into something much bigger than me.

Fast forward to ACL weekend in Austin, Texas. My bunkmate, who put up with me for two weeks of CLTC, was visiting from Florida. I spent two hours on the phone with a special group of four from Chicago, Boulder, and New York. I set up my IC roommate with another from Denver. This past weekend, I got pizza with another friend visiting from San Diego. And yet, no official BBYO event the entire weekend. How could I feel so connected without actually seeing some of these people in person or having the programming that brought us together?

Simple.

Connections made at summer programs surpass those of regular life. These aren't people who made three weeks of my summer better and are now irrelevant. These are people who changed my life in three weeks. I lived with them, learned with them, and grew with them. I discovered what leadership truly feels like—not just running programs, but supporting others, lifting them up, and building something meaningful together. I found confidence in my voice and comfort in my vulnerability.

Now, I can't imagine my life without a Snapchat vlog, a five-hour FaceTime, or 500 Instagram reels blowing up my DMs. These connections taught me that friendship doesn’t have to fade when the program ends; it evolves past the limits of location. It becomes a support system, a reminder of who I am at my best, and a reason to keep pushing forward.

Moral of the story, go on the summer program. I never expected it to change my life the way it did, and everyone deserves that experience. You might not have the immediate feeling of connection, or even appreciate the experience while you're living it, but it will have a lasting impact. It’s not just a few weeks of summer, but the start of something that stays with you long after you unpack your suitcase.