My first term on chapter board, I served as Dafna BBG’s Fall Term Sh’licha. It was difficult to be one of the two girls whose first time it was on board, and overall, it was a huge learning experience. So, if you aren’t sure what your first term is supposed to be like and what you should be doing, I’m here to help!

First off, be assertive! If you are on a board call and your N’siah asks if anyone has any ideas and you have some, say them. I was so nervous whenever my chapter N’siah would ask if anyone had theme ideas or program ideas because I wasn’t sure if I was allowed to say something. Newsflash: you are! My board happened to be pretty quiet that term, making it more confusing for me because I wasn’t sure if I could share my ideas. But it pays off to see your ideas come to life, especially if it’s a bigger event like Siblinghood or a program you know your chapter will love.

Next, prioritize your board position. As chapter Sh’licha, I was also playing school volleyball and in my freshman year of high school. It was challenging to balance the three, especially since I was taking a lot of higher-level classes, but you need to create a system that works for you. For me, I would get a lot of my work done on the bus to and from volleyball games. I was also given the advice to not treat chapter board as a job, which helped me a lot. And of course, prioritize school over everything else, because even though BBYO leadership teaches you lots of skills, you should focus on getting good grades.

Another thing to remember is that this is your position. You ran for this position because you had so many goals and ideas that you wanted to achieve—don’t forget that! I like to make notes in the Notes app at the beginning of the term with my main ideas that I want to see come to life, whether that be programs, personal goals, or how I want to collaborate with other positions. It’s a great way to organize what you want to achieve and be able to express those ideas to your chapter N’siah, advisor, and regional/council counterparts.

Lastly, remember to have fun! When I came home after I had just been elected as Chapter Sh’licha, I sat with the Sh’licha box and worried. I thought to myself, how in the world can I do this? But remember, you were elected to the position because your chapter believes in you and knows you will do an amazing job.

I know you will do amazing things on board, and if you or others aren’t sure what to do as a first-time board member, refer back to this article!