RYLA GRADUATES
Cambria Rotary Club RYLA coordinator Jane Howard began with a brief overview: RYLA stands for Rotary Youth Leadership Awards. CUHS Counselor Cheryl Seay helps with student selection, alerting students to application deadlines and arranging interview dates and times. Most students are juniors when they apply and attend. This year there were 5 juniors and 1 sophomore from Coast Union H.S. RYLA is conducted for 4 days at Camp Yomah in Ojai. Cristel Chesney, Laudon Rowen and Elaine Beckham drove the students to and from the camp. Jane praised the leadership of the camp: Darin Arrasmith is the chairperson and our own Nancy McKarney is his very capable administrator. Jane brought Tim Carr up to the podium to be recognized as the 2018 Most Outstanding RYLA
Counselor. About 250 attended RYLA this spring, April 19-22. Five RYLA graduates attended the Rotary luncheon. Student Testimonies about RYLA:
ZACK AZEVEDO---He was worried about a specific student ending up in his cabin. As it turned out, this particular student was a terrific person and lots of fun.
TORI EHLERS---She learned that 20 seconds of confidence such as smiling to someone can be life changing. In her Diversity class she learned that everyone was unique, and she learned how to reach out to fellow students.
FIONA CLOWARD---She learned that it was physically impossible to complete the obstacles of the Ropes Course without relying on, and having trust in, your fellow students. She learned that it was important to take the time to listen to other students’ stories. And she learned not to give up on her
dreams.
CESAR HERNANDEZ---He felt shy about mixing with new people at first. He tried to hang out with his friends the first day. But by the evening of the first day he found himself bonding with some new friends on his color team and in his cabin. He learned from Camp Director Darin to “take off your cool card” and be yourself. Cesar especially enjoyed the goal setting class and will use the notes he wrote in his binder. He concluded that the four days of RYLA were the best time of his life.
EMMA SISON—Emma said she could describe RYLA in one word---REFRESHING Emma admitted that she started at camp with a bad attitude. At first she worried that no one she knew was on her color team or in her cabin. But then she bonded with two new friends who are still in communication. She was sad to return home from RYLA, but realized a responsibility to share this inspirational experience with those who did not attend. She felt that the RYLA experience can bring out your “inner leader”.
Congratulations to the 2018 RYLA Graduates!