The Rotary Youth Leadership
Awards, or RYLA, as it is popularly known, was held at the O.P. Jindal Global
University in Sonipat from 20-22nd December, 2013.
Six enthusiastic and excited
representatives from Form-11, Interact Club arrived at Sonipat. With over a
thousand participants, the energy level at the venue was palpable. The first
evening we enjoyed the Rock Band event with the theme, “Angels and Devils”.
Since we were all staying on campus,
every morning, there was a range of sports
activities that you could participate in, like badminton, table tennis,
running, etc. The next morning, after breakfast, we attended various lectures
on leadership, self-improvement and giving back to the community. In the
evening, there was a singing competition, followed by a Bollywood themed dance.
There were various performances by classical dancers. We then spent the rest of
the night dancing to the beats of an in-house DJ.
The last day was dedicated towards community
service where we went to a government-run school and help set up a library for
the students. We also helped out in a medical health camp in a nearby village.
The feeling of satisfaction that each one of us had was immense. The words of
Mahatma Gandhi rang in my ears – “Be the change you want to see in the world “
The three days at RYLA taught me
about leadership and giving back to the community. It gave us a platform to
showcase our talents and we were all sorry to see it come to an end. The theme
of the conference, ‘Be the Change’, left a lasting impact on us and inspired us
all to lead by example.
Overall, it was a great
experience and a perfect blend of learning and fun.
