While I had heard plenty about Ryla from interactions with past attendees I still did not know just what to expect. Like many of the other Rylarians I was a bit hesitant at first when being told that this would be a “life changing event,” but it didn’t take long to realise what a great opportunity for development RYLA really was through the great range of activities it encompassed. It encouraged a great deal of personal development as it was really up to the individual to ‘get out what they put in.’
What I really enjoyed was the diversity. Everyone is wired in a slightly different way, and the way RLYA catered for this is what I think made it such a productive week. A great example of this were the vast array of speakers who had different topics, beliefs and ways of delivering their key message. Talking to people after the speakers it was very interesting to hear each other’s perspectives on what the speaker had to say and how these messages resonated with the individuals in very different ways.
This week was often referred to as a life changing event. While I may not have made drastic life changes or taken an action like some did as a direct result of attending RYLA, I do truly believe it was a life changing experience for me. It has had a positive effect on me in a mental/emotional capacity, such as; changing my thought processes and decision making, I am more confident, and I believe that it has given me a greater perspective through the speakers, leadership activities and getting to know the fellow Rylarians.
Another real strength of the week was the opportunity to meet so many great people. For me, spending time with these fellow Rylarians really gave me a lot of perspective and the majority of my key learnings for the week came from interactions with these people. RYLA really was a thoroughly enjoyable and rewarding experience that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend to anybody.
[Ben was sponsored on RYLA by Parnell Rotary and his employer Fonterra]
