RYLA Students Share Their RYLA Experiences

 
From L to R Segen Ande, Jordyn Silverstone, Kevin Liao, Flynn Steele, Lloyd Trilling
At the Rotary breakfast meeting on Tuesday, May 31, 2016, RB Sunrise member, Lloyd Trilling gave a very informative and moving presentation regarding the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA), a Rotary District 5340 all-expenses-paid program for juniors in high school in San Diego and Imperial Counties.  The weekend camp at Idyllwild, California encourages these students to become more effective leaders when they return to high school for their senior year, motivating them to take on additional leadership roles and to find additional ways to serve.
 
There were between 1200-1800 applications for the prestigious camp but only space at the camp for 279 students.  The camp encourages leadership skills by the students who begin the weekend as strangers.  They are exposed to a diverse group of exceptional speakers, and then worki together in a “family” unit. Participants were divided into families to provide a more intimate learning and sharing experience. The "family" consistis of a Rotarian Facilitator and up to 10 students from different high schools throughout the Rotary District.
 
 
As a Rotarian Facilitator, Lloyd spoke about working with these impressive young people and the wonderful opportunity he had leading these students in their once-in-a-lifetime experience.
 
There were four students from Scripps Ranch High School attending the breakfast meeting receiving RYLA completion certificates.  The includied Segen Ande, Jordyn Silverstone, Flynn Steele, and Kevin Liao.  Each student spoke about what they took away from attending RYLA, not only in affecting how they want to serve when they return to school as seniors, but also influencing their path for future achievement.
 
Carl Kruze added his personal experience in being a Rotary Facilitator at RYLA, speaking about families taking nicknames from different universities.  His family was named after Boston University’s The Dog Pound, with the banner to match.  He spoke about the life friendships that some of these students develop and the camaraderie and closeness they achieve being with each other for only such a short period of time.