This past weekend, I got to be a counselor at a Rotary conference for future leaders called RYLA. I honestly never thought I'd be able to be the role model for anyone besides my little sister. But I had the most wonderful opportunity to know ten beautiful souls.

And honestly, their hearts are so much bigger than mine (and I take pride in how large my heart is). I got to know them in such a short amount of time and it gives me hope for our future. Far too often we come to the conclusion that our futures are doomed because of the upcoming generations, but I beg to differ. Not only did I get to bond with my group of inspiring girls but I got the chance to meet many others with hearts and hopes that make me believe the future is truly bright.

I think it's so incredibly important to grant yourselves the opportunity to buy into programs and people that will allow you to grow and become a person that you'd personally like to spend time with. I got to lead a small group of future leaders while we volunteered and I got to see how up to any challenges this group of students were.

Moreover, having people on your side that will constantly build you up instead of bring you down was something I also got to experience during this conference. The group of counselors I got to work with was so caring and understanding. I got to become very close to people on staff as well as my girls in my group and I'm so blessed. Not many people can say that they have a family of over 130 people that are so incredibly supportive and loving like any RYLArian can claim.

It's so important to let people always know that everything they do--no matter how small they think it may be--makes an impact. Fine lines can be crossed and so communication is incredibly important and letting people know that they're being the good is something that often should be reiterated.

We never know what other people are going through and so being kind and good people always is something I try to always drill through the minds of anyone I meet.

I just really want to brag about how good people that I met over this past weekend are. I've never met so many people that give me hope for the future. I've never met so many people with the same mindset and goals as myself.

I just hope that people know they make a difference. Regardless of how little of importance they think their lives play, they can make a difference. A compliment or a snide remark can continue to be something a person may dwell on. We can be the good. We can be the change in the world if we really try.