From Uncomfortable to Confident

When the 20th SYTA member asked the Your Big Year team how they could block off time in their conference schedule to take part, we knew something had shifted.

What started as a conference youth experience 5 years ago, has become something SYTA members are genuinely excited to be part of.

With the support of the SYTA Youth Foundation, the Global Citizens Challenge On Location brought young people from across the Pittsburgh region into the SYTA conference for two days of career exploration, skill-building and connection. Students joined us through organizations including the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh, California Area School District, Amachi Pittsburgh and United Way, with two students even travelling from Ohio to participate.

But what made the experience particularly special was the way SYTA members stepped in.

Members volunteered their time, joined activities, shared their own career journeys and welcomed students onto the trade floor. For many of the young people, it was a rare opportunity to speak directly with professionals from across travel and tourism, and for members, it became a chance to see firsthand what a few conversations, some encouragement and access to an industry can unlock.

One of our favorite examples was Mark, a student from California Area School District in Pittsburgh. During a networking activity, Mark admitted that approaching strangers and starting conversations made him uncomfortable. We gave him a few practical tools and encouraged him to use the conference as a safe place to practice. Later that afternoon, we spotted him independently walking the trade floor, approaching SYTA members, introducing himself and starting conversations.

That is exactly what this experience is designed to create: young people willing to stretch beyond their comfort zones and an industry willing to meet them there.

As one participant put it:

“I would definitely recommend it to all my friends because this is a big opportunity for us to discover ourselves. We see so many careers, people from different industries like marketing to tourism, and that’s my why.”

The experience continues beyond Pittsburgh through virtual cultural exchanges and PenPal sessions, leading into our Global Citizens Challenge in February 2027.

A huge thank you to the SYTA members who made time in an already busy conference schedule to talk, listen, encourage and participate. And a special shoutout to Visit Pittsburgh, Jassby Inc., Music Travel Consultants, Peace Through Tourism, SYTA and the SYTA Youth Foundation for helping make it possible.

The enthusiasm from members reminded us that this isn’t only an opportunity for young people to discover the travel industry. It is also an opportunity for the travel industry to discover them.

Rachel Head
Your Big Year