Going through high school, I never thought I would find something that would change my life forever. I viewed high school as a stepping stone to college, and I saw college as the place that I would grow the most. Once I got to high school though, I found Operation Snowball, and at the same time, I found my home.

Operation Snowball is an alcohol, tobacco, and another drug prevention program that also focuses on youth leadership and each weekend retreat is treated like a giant bonding experience. My school would go on two retreats a year, one in the fall and one in the spring. My first Snowball weekend was the spring of my freshman year and I felt at home the second I got to camp.

I went to four Snowball weekends as a participant and then the fall retreat of my junior year I realized that I wanted to be more involved in the program. I very nervously interviewed to be on staff for the coming spring retreat and it was the best decision I’ve ever made.

Once I was chosen to be a teen leader, I was able to be a part of the behind the scenes work and be an important part of making sure the weekend ran smoothly. I ran small groups, participated in the skits we did on Friday and Saturday night and worked with my fellow staffers and leaders to create the best experiences for the participants possible.

After my second time on staff as a senior, I knew I was ready to fill the role of director and be one of the students that planned and ran the entire weekend. I was chosen, along with another student to run everything and it was an incredible feeling, just knowing that I was so trusted with the program that I loved the most.

My co-director and I had about three months to plan everything and when it came to the weekend, not to sound biased but, it was honestly one of the best Snowball weekends I’ve ever been a part of. Now that I’ve graduated, I’m still given the chance to go up to camp for the retreats and be a part of the group of alumni that helps the teen and adult staffers out throughout the weekend. It’s so great that I can still be a part of the weekends that I love and stay connected to the program that has done so much for me.

Snowball has given me an outlet to lead and work closely with others. By running my small groups, talking to my classmates, and helping them work through their emotions and opinions, I also figured out what I want to do for the rest of my life. I realized that I want to pursue a career in social work and continue to help others for the rest of my life. I love working with people and now that I’m finally in my major classes, it’s nice to see how the skills I learned in Snowball, relate to what I want to do with my professional career.

I don’t know what I would have done without Operation Snowball.

It has given me incredible friends, amazing life skills, an outlet for something I’m passionate about, and it has opened a door to my interest in social work and helping others. Two weeks ago was my 12^th Snowball weekend and I see many, many more in my future. My school’s chapter of Snowball is always changing and reinventing itself and I cannot wait to be a part of the process to create the best atmosphere for the participants that continue to come through the program.