The following student report was submitted by Ambassador League Agent Carri C. during the 2007-2008 League.
My SSI Experience
My experience, well, it started with a mini on-site SSI at my home school co-op. While at first I was not excited to go, I began to really like the program. It gave me a good taste of the summer SSI and also a taste of government legislation. One of the bills that my caucus was assigned to was a ban on smoking, we were to oppose this ban. And we were not happy, but, as we discussed the ban we realized that there were many flaws in it (too many to place here). So we were able to oppose the ban without really promoting smoking. That really gave me a new way to look at any kind of issue.
Next, Mr. Muffett told us and our parents about the summer SSI program. Once again, I was not excited about going. But, I got very thrilled once the pace increased. I really enjoyed the lectures everyday, they really changed how I thought about things. Like how I could look at BOTH sides of an issue and then decide what I believed.
One thing that really impacted me was the night worship sessions, I really got to praise God and get in touch with Him. And then the speakers were amazing! They were so enthusiastic and truly loved God. And it helped me get back on track with where I was in my spiritual walk.
My caucus meetings were so fun, I got to know each person and then, after that we began learning each others strengths and weaknesses and then decided who would do rebuttal speeches, the introduction speeches, and everything else.
Then there were the committee meetings, they were incredible, like Mr. Muffett has said, it's a war....a verbal war. And the meeting was just one of our many battles. It was a battle for ammo and information. And both caucuses did well. By then we were fully prepared for the last battle. The Mock Legislature.
All day I researched and did many rough drafts of my speech, getting more ammo than I already had, I added humor and well worded responses. I stayed up late, cutting out things and saying the speech over and over to get it in 1 minute and 20 seconds. Finally I was ready.
The Mock was....I can't even explain it. You walk into a large beautiful room, the House floor! You sit in the seats of actual representatives! So you sit there, stomach knotting, listening to all the debates and deciding which side deserved your vote. Then, as your bill comes closer you fiddle with your speech papers, think over what you wrote. And prepare your mind for the battle ahead. There! The house speaker calls out your name, and you head for the stand. Take a deep breath, and go.
Does that give a good idea of my experience? It really changed me, and the way I think. The way I tackle issues now, even silly ones, has been changed and altered in the best ways. By the way, I'm totally going to SSI again next summer.
