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Teens Take On The Challenge of RYLA Rotary Youth Leadership

photo by provided Siobhan Haggett learned more than how to use a zip line by attending the RYLA camp. She learned a lot about her self and boosted her self-confidence about her leadership skills!

photo by provided In an epic summer of getting his license and becoming a senior, Aaron Gaines took away from the Rotary Youth Leadership Award experience a host of new skills including not being afraid anymore of speaking in front of a group. Both teens were sponsored by the Vergennes Rotary “Mavericks”.

Tuesday July 22, 2014

By Cookie Steponaitis

The summer between their junior and senior year kicked off with a bang for local teenagers Aaron Gaines and Siobhan Haggett. The pair was selected to attend the Rotary Youth Leadership Award Camp by the Vergennes Rotary “Mavericks” and had little background knowledge of what to expect and were wowed by the level of the experience.
RYLA was created by Rotary International and is aimed toward encouraging students to be more involved and more effective as community leaders. While the camp does not teach leadership the week focuses on the fundamentals of leadership, ethics of positive leadership, conflict management and problem solving, elements of being a global citizen, building self-esteem and confidence and most importantly passing on Rotary’s purpose which is the service of others in the community and around the world.
        “One of the biggest lessons that I learned while attending RYLA was to be confident in myself,” shared Siobhan. “The majority of the activities that we did were focused on building self confidence and stepping out of our comfort zones.  At RYLA we did many different activities including ropes course activities, team building games, personality tests and talent show. We were at Lyndon State College. There were about 80-100 kids there.  A typical day was waking up at 7:30 and participating in demanding activities all morning.  We would then have lunch with our team and participate in other activities until dinner.  We would eat dinner with our team and then go to the gym to have some time to hang out before bed. On Friday night we went to bed at 11:00.  On Saturday night we participated in Late Night for Polio Plus. This was an activity where we stayed up until 2:00 in the morning playing games in the gym.  RYLA was a wonderful opportunity for me to meet other students.”
    Also attending representing his class and Vergennes Rotary was junior/senior Aaron Gaines who came away from the experience relishing that challenging yourself was a major part of the program, talking in front of crowds and getting used to having to share your own opinion across diverse subjects impressed the teen. “The days are packed full of leadership activists such as the ropes course for example. It made you talk to people you had never even met. With that you have to get over the fear of touching people.  On the ropes course you have to sacrifice your body for the activity. By that I mean you would hold sometimes hands while there crossing or swing in the route even if it means you hurt yourself falling.” Both young people came away from the experience not only feeling more confident but very appreciative that Rotary gave them the opportunity to learn and grow. “I was afraid of public speaking before I went.  Now I'm not,” shared Aaron Gaines.  Echoing his sentiments Siobhan concluded, “RYLA was a wonderful opportunity for me to meet other students. I feel that after my experiences at RYLA, I will be a more confident person, and a better leader.” Helping to raise new leaders and promote their mission of civic pride and service, Rotarians are always looking for ways to bring the next generation to the table and to let them see how to lead.  The Valley Voice salutes Rotary and all groups who take youth under their wing and show them how to lead and accomplish great things.

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