When I was 14 and young and naive, I was introduced to a youth group at a church that is basically in my backyard. I'd gone to this church for CCD throughout my whole childhood, I attended mass at this church and saw this church through my bedroom window and I'd open my shades every morning while getting ready for school. But never did I imagine for this church to offer me a group so amazing and so life-changing that it will forever be my fondest high school extracurricular.
People hear the term 'youth group' and immediately get so many different ideas and have so many different opinions, that was once me thinking, "Am I really going to be THAT kid that's in a youth group?". But after my first time going I was hooked. I loved the people, the laugh. the atmosphere and the bonds. The four years in that youth group carried me through my highest and lowest points, and I'll always remember that. Every trip, every meeting, every fundraiser or community service project, every retreat, every play and single thing in between gave me the most unbelievable memories... memories I will always look back on and laugh about and memories that I would relive any day of the week.
My high school youth group provided me with things I could've never given myself and it taught me lessons I could've never taught myself. It gave me something to look forward to every week and it gave me a second family that I loved even in the downs but especially in the ups. And the ups will always be treasured while the downs will be used as experience.
So to my high school youth group... I thank you. Thank you for giving me an escape that I always had as my sanctuary. Thank you for allowing me to meet some of the most amazing people in my life to this very day. Thank you for making me feel important and showing me how to be a leader and thank you for guiding me through my darkest journeys. Thank you for making me comfortable with public speaking and better with an organization. Thank you for everything, I truly don't know what I would've done without you.
Now I'm matured and still learning, but even at 19, I can say joining that youth group truly changed my life.
