by Emma Schaefer

Having had the opportunity to attend “YES” for the fourth year in a row, I can honestly say that this seminar is second to none. My favorite part as usual, was the community outreach project. This year we assisted High Plains Food Bank in their morning and got to see and participate in so much. My group was the first to enter the warehouse to start packing food boxes for low income families, it was eye opening to see how much goes into these boxes and the process to get it all done. Next we went back to the garden where we helped clear out weeds and learn about some of the plants that they grew. Then finally, we got to take the weeds to be disposed of…we fed the weeds to pigs. High Plains Food Bank has several different animals, such as chicken, turkey, and PIGS. We all got to meet these animals and I think it’s safe to say we all want a Kunekune pig for ourselves.

The only downside to this seminar is the LONG days. We were loaded on the buses or making our way to our venue as early as 7:45AM. I can’t say it was so bad though, because we were always waking up to a great fun filled day.

Every year I’ve learned something new and this year is no different. During the many speakers and breakout groups one stayed with me, Jess Ekstrom’s keynote address. Jess is the founder and CEO of Headbands of Hope, and it’s very easy to see how much her organization means to her. However, upon hearing her story it was also apparent that her road to making such a successful organization was not easy. Jess Ekstrom reminded us that the road won’t always be easy but you’ve got to keep trying if you want to make a difference.

The Bank Of America AQHYA Youth Excellence Seminar is hands down one of the most beneficial opportunities that AQHYA offers. It’s importance lies with all of the things learned at this great seminar. From leadership to international friendships there aren’t many opportunities that can offer you as much as this one. For anyone considering attending YES in the future I would highly suggest it. Everyone who attends can no doubt see the impact that it has on others and themselves.