First Year Chapter Reflection

My first year leading a SADD chapter was a bit unusual. The first thing I did was try to recruit members. However, no one I talked to had ever heard of SADD before. So, I pivoted my focus. With a small group of people, including my advisor, we organized our annual Youth Summit. That’s where I found and recruited an 8th grader to help out and eventually take on a leadership role—allowing me to focus on the big plans my advisor and I have for the chapter.

I’ve learned that it really helps to have a plan before starting a chapter. Whoever you choose as an advisor should sit down with you early on and discuss your goals. My advisor and I have talked about starting chapters in each of the four schools around us. This has been—and still is—our main goal because it would allow us to spread SADD’s positive impact to a broader community. During my first year, I found a strong leader who is ready to take on a bigger role in our Seneca Falls school. This gives me the opportunity to step back a little there and shift my focus toward developing leaders in the other schools.

If my advisor and I hadn’t made a plan, I don’t think we would have achieved as much as we have. Looking back, it feels like I’ve been involved in SADD for more than a year because of everything we’ve accomplished. This program truly makes a difference in communities. One piece of advice: the year goes by faster than you think, so make sure to keep track of important dates.

At first, I was nervous. It seemed like starting a chapter would take over my life and make me incredibly busy. But I was able to find a good balance between my responsibilities. If you're looking to make a difference but are worried about the time commitment, don’t stress. If you communicate with your advisor and your state or national SADD leaders, you can definitely find a setup that works for everyone.

My experience working with the SADD network has been incredibly positive. Everyone I’ve met has been kind and understanding. That support gives me confidence and reassurance—it’s okay if I occasionally have to miss something.

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Learn more about starting your own chapter, or how to plan our your chapter's activities for the year at sadd.org/programs