I can still remember the night that I was given the title of the 2002 Southern California Rose of Tralee". I remember thinking how much fun it was going to be to go to represent my centre, travel to Ireland for the first time, and experience the fun of the festival that all of the past roses had shared with me over the years. What I didn't thinkabout was what the experience would mean to me personally and longer term. My time in Ireland for the festival was one of huge growth