ROTARY YOUTH LEADERSHIP AWARDS (A mind liberating experience, only for the open minds)

    It all began like talks for me when my cousin, a Rotarian, told me I’d be going for the RYLA 2019 at the sea-school, Apapa, Lagos. I went for the necessary screening and Orientation on the 15th and 22nd Nov. 2019 respectively it finally dawn on me that it was happening. It was all beautiful scenery right from the jetty in Falomo, to the boats and the brackish sea water.
    Right from arrival it was excruciatingly fun and exhausting as we were asked to drop off our bags and were asked to line up for what was termed “LACASERA”, little did we know it was a brief exercise to seemingly invigorate us into the mood of the activities to be undergone right there at the Sea-school. Honestly, even at that point I was still being skeptical of everything as to the new and rapid changes to my living but spending just a night there, I began to see and understand things from another point of view. Anyways without boring you with too many irrelevant details, I’ll go down to things that you could delve into:

Day 1. Arrival.
 we were assigned to various watches and hostel (My watch was ELEGBE WATCH, Hostel was SENATOR HALL) and we were given Mesh pans for our meals.

Day 2. Official opening day of RYLA 2019, key notes were on the purpose of RYLA and amongst the numerous importance and purpose I’ll pick 5 that tops my list which are Integrity development, Value humanity, self discipline, time management and obeying instructions regardless of whether it sits down well with you or not. Basically into one sentence it’s all about Leadership and personal development skill.

Day 3. Lecture on how to develop mental strength and also we were thought how to use the life jacket and we jumped into the sea as I call it “BAPTISM IN THE SEA”.

Day 4. Lecture on the roles of the youth graced by daddy showkey and he gave a key note on “DRUGS” to the participants. He said;

* Don’t build confidence outside your dad and mom, so that an external can’t influence you.
* Don’t bully people.
* “LIVE A DRUG-FREE LIFE (I promise to live a drug-Free life).
* Be patient, there’s times for everything, your time will come if you do the right things.
* kind of friends you keep, determine your future
* Set up goals
* Believe in yourself
* Be respectful and responsible
* Maintain peace and harmony
Before the lecture of the day we had “Assault drills”, every watch had to present ten representatives who were to climb over a 12ft wall, importance of this was to build team work and courage.

Day 5. lecture on “FIRST AID AMD FIRE FIGHTING, BASIC  PREVENTION & SAFETY” and VOLUNTARISM AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, key speakers were First Nigerian president of JCI MR PASCAL DIKE AND CHARLES INOJIE an actor and comedian.
 Day 6. “ENDURANCE TREK” from sea-school to TAKWA BAY which was about 5hours To and fro, plus I call it the Apex of the activities and exercise we were engaged in during the RYLA 2019. The endurance trek was so physically exerting that some Rylarians needed medical attention. Fortunately,  medical teams comprising of rotarians, Rylarians and staffs of the sea school were on standby. Some Rylarians had to be carried home by their colleagues. *whew* it was a test of endurance indeed.
Day 7. DRAMA AND BONFIRE NIGHT, every watch (Elegbe watch and others) presented their drama and were scored on the basis of Originality, Stage management, time management, Costume, Audibility etc. The bonfire was lit later in the night and each watch had to dance around it while singing songs reminiscent  of young soldiers in training, it was a wonderful experience, the feeling of unity, camaraderie and excitement. I'd pay to do it again.
Day 8. VARIETY NIGHT which was all about the MR & MRS RYLA competition and TALENT HUNT. Forty contestants, 20 beautiful young ladies and 20 handsome young men( looking like the African warriors of old) vied for the crown as miss RYLA and Mr RYLA respectively. After a rigorous selection process, two worthy contestants-- a male and a female-- got the crowns to the elation of the vibrant crowd. As the contests for Miss and Mr RYLA was going on, different Rylarians were climbing on to the stage to showcase their talents-- ranging from magic to singing, to dancing and even a mimicry of the legendary Fela Anikulapo Kuti of blessed memory.
Many were sitted--mostly in pairs while some stood up to dance to the tunes dished out by the disc jockey.


Day 9. CURTAIN DRAWN ON RYLA 2019
As usual, we woke up to bath and prepare for the day but that day was different; we were instructed to pack all our bags and place them outside our hostels.
We ate breakfast with our rugged mesh pans and we converged for the final program. Awards were given, gifts were shared and it was time to go home. That was when the tears started to flow and Rylarians hugged one another goodbye while exchange phone numbers and promises. The atmosphere was intense, if only RYLA could be extended and we could spend more time with our new families. But no matter how much time a farmer spends in his field, home is where he shall return to rest.
Written by Udeze Miracle(Udx) and Akinkuolie Oluwaseyi.
Edited by Akinkuolie Oluwaseyi(Sheyi_Bryta).