A Jefferson teenager recently participated in a program that helped her grow as an individual and a leader.

Randa Linberg is going into her junior year at Greene County High School and earlier this month she took part in the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards Conference at Grinnell College. According to RYLA, this six-day program teaches kids about leadership skills and principles in a safe and respectful environment. Linberg tells Raccoon Valley Radio she got to engage in different activities and listened to various speakers, while also getting to meet other teens from across the state. She shares a couple of the things she took away from the camp.

“Something that I learned, which I thought was very important, is to ask questions more in life. Usually I’m nervous about asking questions for the outcome of the responses, or just because I feel like it’s not an important thing to ask. But I learned that four words that could change your life is, ‘Will you help me?’ And I thought that was very inspiring and I gained a lot from that.”

Linberg learned about the program from her older sister, who participated last year, and she encourages her peers to go.

“This was all brand new to me. I was very nervous, I did not know what to expect. But over the days you just kind of get into it and I never wanted to leave. I would say just to go for the experience because it was honestly the best week of my summer and I hope other people could go and just enjoy it.”   

Linberg thanks the Jefferson Rotary Club for sponsoring her and one of her classmates’ trip. Interested individuals can contact a Jefferson Rotarian for more information.