Trends and Traditions at KYA
By Haley Griebel and Lia Anderson
Just because we may not be in person this year, doesn’t mean the traditions won’t live on. We may not have stayed at the Crowne Plaza or visited the Kentucky State Capitol this year, but we definitely may have started our own trends at home. On Day 1, our beloved governor Jacob Grant started #KYAfitcheck via Instagram. Many participated by posting their “KYA fits” on their social media stories and tagging @kyymca and @kyymcamedia. Because of our Zoom platform, the most seen is waist up. Therefore, most pictures showed students wearing sweatpants or pajama pants while in their business blazers or formal top wear. Blankets were also a luxury and added accessory to this year’s attire. The usual fun activities that take place on Day 2 of KYA at the Crowne Plaza appeared to have different backgrounds this year. Our famous silent disco, unfortunately, did not take place in-person, but Y-staff and students gathered via Zoom to party. Trends started within our silent disco party: cowboy hats, sunglasses, and a whole lot of USA. Most attendees even had either their bedroom lights in disco formation or an actual disco ball. A group of Y-members gathered in one location and joined via one account to party together. At this year’s talent stage, attendees and Y-staff sported their Christmas attire while conversing about their talents and/or previous talents. Y-staff Ryan Simpson showed pictures of when he was a little guy, younger than us, at 10 years old in the chess club. Gabriella Music (Craft Academy) sang a beautiful song and displayed her lovely artwork. CW Candidate Cal Wagers (North Laurel) sang Take Me To Church on the ukulele. The trend begins with the lip sync battle. CW Candidates Cal Wagers (North Laurel), Clint Chambliss (Elizabethtown), Jalen Wellman (Oldham), and Josh Groves (Heritage Christian Academy) participated in a lip sync battle to Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You”. WikiRaces, GatherTown, and Trivia also took place this year via Zoom. The virtual trends this year were wildly amusing and definitely adaptive to the circumstances. While we were at home wearing business on top and casual on the bottom, we took time to reminisce on our favorite KYA traditions.
Despite being virtual this year, many traditions have developed in previous years and are held sacred today. The Crowne Plaza is home to these traditions; they were born here. KYA students have enjoyed a variety of activities in the hotel after the meetings of the day. At KYA, food and drink are included as favorites in traditions. From the smoothies on the first floor of the hotel to ramen noodles in a coffee maker, students spend time making or buying food as much as they do debating. That may be a stretch, but we sure do appreciate the glories of food at KYA. And, we can’t forget the pizza we eat at midnight! Aside from food, getting to spend a few nights in a hotel room has created many wonderful memories for students. Some enjoy staying up all night talking with their roommates while others remember playing hide and seek in the hotel at night. The reflection period on the last night of the conference hits home with many Y-students. These speeches, given by the presiding officers, are very meaningful and moving as they know they are leaving and sadly will not be attending another KYA. Singing Y-songs is also a popular tradition. Songs like “Little Red Wagon” and “Tarzan” create strong bonds between the students and officers each year. The fun activities escalate on the second night. We host silent disco, karaoke, and gaga ball. I’m not sure what your favorite is, but my personal favorite is silent disco! In past years, the KYA conference has also traveled to the Kentucky State Capitol to debate. Here, we debate high ranked bills while sitting in a special place. We sit in the seats used by our own Kentucky legislators!
As we know, KYA is a place that brings us all together. It has given us some of our best memories and fun traditions. But, it’s not only the traditions that bring us together. Through this conference, we have made strong friendships by just getting to know people — people with different perspectives, people with different opinions, people with different backgrounds. This year’s virtual conference doesn’t change that. Even though we may not have seen our fellow delegates in-person, we know that we are in the Crowne Plaza at heart.
