ILTC 2024 had a very unusual start for me as I unknowingly began a 24-hour-long travel day from Austin to Denver, an emergency landing in Philly, and finally landing in Newark. Being isolated from any familiar faces and surrounded by the walls of an airplane for such a long time made me think that maybe ILTC wasn’t something I should’ve signed up for to fill my summer break with. Luckily, from the moment I got off the plane, I was met by a familiar face with a BBYO staff vest, which instantly turned my mood around. Scott greeted me with a big hug and a smile on his face even though it was 4 am and we were both exhausted after a long day. The bus ride to camp was just the beginning of the impact ILTC was about to make on my life. The connections I made in a mere 19 days far surpassed those I had made in BBYO up to that point. I began camp with just 12 friends from back home and left camp with over 200 friends I keep in touch with closely, even in the months after camp. From Shabbos morning services to our blueprint group, I was always deepening the connection with my fellow Alephs and BBGs, which, by the end of the 19 days, had created this family from all corners of the world. I couldn’t be more thankful for our coordinators Rex & Caro and the staff Morgan, Ian, Louis, Carly, Scott, and many more amazing people who helped me and many others grow individually this summer. I was always surrounded by knowledge and skilled individuals throughout my time at camp, which single-handedly left the largest impact on me upon my return home. ILTC 2024 gave me an experience I couldn’t get anywhere else in the world and will forever hold a special place in my heart.