People, so many people. When a person enters a room full of strangers the initial reaction is to shy away and keep to themself. I had the same reaction myself when I attended Boy's State last summer. Boy’s State is a week-long conference where students, going into their senior year of high school, learn about how the government works on a state level. Students are chosen by the local American Legion post based off of their involvement and leadership qualities. The experience turned out to be life changing, and helped me to grow as an individual. If I had not befriended people in that week, I would never have made such great friends as I did. A group of strangers can be intimidating; although, unexpected friendships can lead into life-long bonds.

Dread and worry was all I felt on the three hour drive down to Des Moines, Iowa. Once I arrived and checked in, I went down to barrack number twenty-nine to start my week long stay as a 2013 Iowa Boy’s State member. I was the first person to arrive at my barracks, besides our barracks counselor. I felt relieved, not being forced to immediately socialize with strangers, except for the small talk between the counselor and myself. After locating my bed, I unpacked my luggage and waited for the rest of my barracks to arrive. One by one, the other nineteen young men filed in carrying suitcases and duffle bags. My first impression of my companions was they were very athletic people who I had no connection. I was filled with dread, thinking my chance of making friends and finding connections would be limited and nearly impossible. Once everyone was settled, my barracks took the long walk down to the mess hall for lunch. Similar to my first step of the half mile walk to lunch, my journey was only beginning.

Following lunch and forced small talk, the five hundred plus members trekked up to the first of multiple general sessions. I remember walking up solemnly, not talking, unsure what to say or do among all of the strangers. I took a seat next to the rest of my barracks members, without a word, except for the occasional “hey” or “what’s up.” When the session was finished I recall seeing a fellow from my barracks, talking away with almost every person who passed him. I felt envy and a will to learn how he was able to talk so openly to people he had never met before. Once we arrived back at the barracks, I sat down on my bed on the bottom bunk. The person I saw earlier openly socializing, to my surprise, sat down right next me. He introduced himself as Geo, and an in depth conversation followed about our schools and where we lived. Eventually, to my disappointment, we had to leave the barracks for another activity, and afterwards I thought, Hey, maybe this won’t be as bad as I think. I knew in that moment, I had made a friend.

The second day I remember being the worst of the seven days spent at Boy’s State. I was still not extremely close to anyone in my barracks. Throughout the day, I made another friend, once again to my surprise. I do not remember how we started talking, yet the similarities I shared with my new friend, Trevor, were astonishing. We both lived on farms, even though neither one of us truly looked like the farming type, and liked the same style of music. Even though I made another friend that day, I still felt unhappy. I had never been away from home for more than a day, and when I had, my friends or family to keep company. At Boy’s State, I had no one I knew. I could not talk to anyone about my homesickness because I had no one there close enough to me to talk with. I felt alone and spent a majority of my day sitting outside on the barracks steps, waiting for the week to be over. That night, I laid in my cot, depressed and homesick, and eventually fell asleep.

Similar to the day before, my third day starting with me moping. I went to all of the general session and activities, and tried to have fun, no matter how difficult I found being away from home. Once again I was sitting on the steps when Geo and Trevor came out of the barracks to talk to me. For only knowing me for a few days, even they could tell I was unhappy. I found their concern for me touching. I never expected two people I hardly knew to have as much compassion for someone they barely knew. With their help, I managed to find my third day at Boy’s State the most enjoyable day of the conference. The next four days flew by faster than I can remember. I attended the multiple county and state meetings and performed my job as part of the state government. I made many other friends, but none as close as Geo and Trevor. I looked forward to the two and a half hours of sports every day. Geo, Trevor, and I were not huge sport fans, so we spent the time socializing and growing as friends.

When the week was over, I was, to my surprise, dreading to return home. When I first arrived, my only wish was to return to the comfort and normality of home. However, standing outside the barracks with my two new friends, I only wanted the week to go on longer. Geo and Trevor became my close friends and I became theirs. We made plans to visit each other and all three of us had intentions of being Boy’s State counselors the following year.

Friends are made in places never expected. Students who have gone to Boy’s State in the past told me the trip was going to be life changing, and I did not realize how accurate they were until I experienced the conference myself. I made life-long friends, who I am still in touch with today. Even though I entered a place of total strangers, I learned friendships can grow in some of the most unexpected places.