The game was almost over, the championship was in sight. The fans however, were not as excited as I wanted them to be. As a devoted North Yarmouth Academy sports supporter, I couldn’t let this happen. I marched up to the front of the stands and began to yell as loud as I could to rally up the students.
“I believe that we will win!”
“I believe that we will win!”
“I believe that we will win!”
Four years ago, I never would have imagined myself leading a chant in the student section of a state championship soccer game, singing at a rock show, or reciting a personal and poignant speech in front of my entire school.
My whole life I have been quiet, reserved, and too nervous to participate in unfamiliar activities. In fact, I immediately scoffed at the idea of attending RYLA. Four days in the woods with total strangers doing wacky “team building exercises?” No way. However, I ultimately figured that I have nothing to lose. Four days of my summer, it’ll give me something to do, and I’ll be spending time outside as a detox from my phone and the internet. It couldn’t be all that bad.
It turns out, saying it wasn’t bad was quite the understatement. It was an amazing and transformative four days. I could go on and on about my experience that week in June, but it is difficult to exactly define RYLA without actually participating in it. While anyone could read a brochure and get a general idea about what it is all about, there is no substitute for firsthand experience. RYLA in particular is something one needs experience in order to fully understand and appreciate.
After my camper year at RYLA, my authentic self started to show. Looking back, I realized that I was capable of becoming more outgoing and adventurous. RYLA was just the catalyst that brought me to where I am today.
Today, I have evolved into the person I set out to be at the beginning of my camper year. I gained confidence and started to realize the importance of sharing your life with others. This realization was what led to my increased outgoingness, vulnerability, and will to get out and serve my community. I felt great inspiration after RYLA and I was determined to keep that mentality going beyond those four days at Camp Hinds. If I was able try new things and share my stories with my peers at RYLA, what was stopping me from continuing?
All my growth at RYLA would be rendered meaningless If I didn’t continue it beyond Camp Hinds. My two years at RYLA, the slogans have been “share your spark” and “take action.” RYLA made me realize that life is fundamentally action. If I want to improve myself and my community, there is no substitute for action. Ideas are easy, execution is what takes the true time and effort. What we choose to execute is up to each one of us. That is where “share your spark” comes in.
Everyone is unique, so share your spark. Do what you are compelled to do, and don’t let anyone
tell you differently. Whatever activity or cause gets you the most excited, find out what it is, and do it. After RYLA, I felt motivated to do activities that I now had the confidence to execute. Performing rock songs, leading group chants, leading hiking trips, facilitating clubs, sharing my stories, and giving speeches are just some of the things I have enjoyed and felt comfortable doing after RYLA.
What we choose to do with our lives will of course be different for everyone, and the RYLA effect will vary from person to person. However, as long as we realize it is important to share our lives with others, have confidence in ourselves, and most importantly, take action, then I believe that all of us will win.
Reed Silvers is from Portland, ME. He attended RYLA as a camper in June of 2017 and is currently a senior at North Yarmouth Academy in Yarmouth, ME. He plans on attending a liberal arts college in New England with an Environmental Studies major.