CROYA (Committee Representing Our Young Adults) is the place where the past four years of my life have changed. When people talk about CROYA, they usually talk about its service projects, weekly Wednesday night meetings, retreats, and friends made— yet none of those fully explain what CROYA means to me. 

To me, CROYA is less of an organization and more of a feeling—a feeling I didn’t know I needed until I walked through the doors for the first time.

I came to CROYA at a time when I was still figuring out who I was and who I wanted to become amidst this chaotic world of high school. I had not realized that I was looking for a place that didn’t just accept me, but saw me for who I am. 

CROYA became that place almost instantly. It was where I learned you don’t have to have everything figured out to belong somewhere. Over the years, CROYA hasn’t just been a room full of loud music, laughter, and finding out “what’s behind the door”; it’s been a place for self-development. 

I’ve grown here in ways I have never even expected. I found my voice in rooms where I once would have stayed quiet. I learned what leadership looks like when it’s rooted in kindness and not authority. I discovered what it means to show up for people, but especially show up for myself. 

One of the most transformative parts of CROYA is the people. There’s something rare about walking into a space where everyone is allowed to be fully themselves. No judgment. No pressure to be perfect. Just genuine, real connections. The friendships I’ve made here aren’t the kind that fade when the meeting ends or the retreat weekend is over. They’re the people you can call after a rough day and talk to, get advice from during a time of hardship. They’re the people who stayed late to listen when life felt heavy and were there to support me in times of success and leadership. The biggest thing I learned from these connections is that authenticity is a strength, not something to hide. 

Through my eyes, CROYA is a scrapbook of happy memories, jokes from a random Wednesday night meeting, capturing these special moments by taking photos of everyone, the meaningful retreat conversations that stay with you long after, and the small leadership moments that I turn into life lessons. It’s where I realized I could be more than I thought I was, where I can go and let my guard down, where I can not care what others think, and not because someone told me to, but because CROYA, over time, showed me how to. 

Now, as I look back on my time here, I can see the version of myself that walked in on day one, as a completely unsure, guarded girl. Now I see the version walking out— confident, empathetic, and rooted. CROYA didn’t change me overnight; it helped me become someone I want to be, someone who isn’t afraid to try new things or speak up for something. It grew me slowly, intentionally, and in all the right ways.

Through my eyes, CROYA is home. Not a perfect home, not a fancy home, but a real one, filled with real people and real memories. The people here are the ones who care enough to help you become who you’re meant to be. If there is one thing I know for certain, it’s that the person I am today is, in many ways, a reflection of the community that believed in me long before I believed in myself.