A letter from a RYLA student

 

I made my way into the dimly lit cafeteria, lights centered on the meeting between the people who have changed my life. To my back, the faint chirp of crickets, and as I enter, the buzz of the drink machine which fuels me during these late night excursions. Invited to sit and join, I felt the warm welcome of those I think so highly of. We continue the conversations concerning everything from logistics to why we're even there to begin with. Drifting further into the wee hours of the morning, the camp sound asleep, and the five of us running on fumes, our consciences slip from us as our minds are let loose.

Then it hits me.

At this point it's been just over a year since the beginning of what has easily been the greatest year of my life, and I come to the sudden realization of why I'm in that cafeteria, why Greg, Paul, Beth, and Nikki, are in that cafeteria, why Brooks and Charlie are in the art center, all while everyone else recuperates in bed.

Rotary goes further than “service above self,” and is much larger than a “service organization” of 1.2 million members. Rotary is incredibly abstract. There is no set mold for a Rotarian and it is literally impossible to define one. A Rotarian has a passion – one to help others, one to make a difference. These are people who sacrifice blood, sweat, tears, sleep, nutrition, time. They go to all ends of the Earth, giving absolutely everything they have, as a manifestation of their passions.

Rotarians have the uncanny ability to leave you both inspired and in awe. Their compassion, their unwavering commitment, their sheer strength of will. It is impossible to fathom the levels of these qualities which true Rotarians hold. They have a purity of character like none other, and are unique in almost every way. They do not rest until they feel their duty has been fulfilled, yet they are never fully satisfied, never fully finished. They sell themselves short, yet they give more than one could possibly imagine.

Rotarians have a passion for people – to do right by them. They give a helping hand in a time of need. They lend their heart and soul to something no one else would. They go out on a limb for a complete stranger, fully aware of any risk involved. They are both fearless and shameless, because the thought of failure has little to no effect on their aspirations.

1.2 million of these kinds of people belong to a club. There are millions, if not billions more that exist in the world. They are of both genders, all ages, all professions, and all walks of life. I would not even resemble the person I am today if not for Rotarians. Difficult to define, but easy to recognize, these are the people who have changed the lives of many. These are the people who have transformed my life completely, and continue to do so.

How about you?