The following student report was submitted by Ambassador League Agent Emily M. during the 2007-2008 League.
My SSI Experience
A week or two after the end of my first week at SSI, I was at a friend's house celebrating her 16th birthday. When my parents came to pick me up, I discovered my suitcase and pillows in the car. My dad drove onto the freeway ramp under a sign that said, "Lansing." When I asked where we were going and my dad said, "For another week at SSI," I screamed and laughed. In my backseat celebration I managed to choke out, "Oh my goodness! There's no way! Thank you!" Once my mom got me to settle down, she told me the truth, "We're going to Frankenmuth." My excitement died. Don't get me wrong, I love Frankenmuth, and I was happy about the surprise trip. The only thing was. it wasn't SSI.
I love SSI. I have attended four weeks of camp and have come home at the end of each week happy and excited to use what I learned. My first year as a Representative I worked on a bill to ban embryonic stem cell research. To this day, I can't pass up a newspaper article or news segment about stem cell research. About a year ago, I wrote a letter to the editor on the subject. After my week in the media, I can't read a newspaper article the same way I used to, now that I know more about journalism. I even learned how to use a digital camera and video recorder that week. Through SSI, I have a new understanding about how the legislature, court, and media function. It's one thing to read about or even watch any of these things happen, quite another to do them.
The most important part of all my weeks at SSI was my spiritual growth. Through SSI, my relationship with the Lord has been strengthened. Speakers like Herb Titus, Frank Turner, and Clare DeGraaf made a real impression on me with their amazing testimonies, and the great things that God had done in their lives. This past year, every single teaching session spoke right to my heart in such a way that I knew only God could have planned it. God has used SSI to change my life in a powerful way. Because of SSI, I feel led to study government in college. I can hardly wait to see where God takes me with it.
SSI has also been lots of fun. Playing ping-pong and watching games of serious foosball are just as much a part of SSI as caucus meetings. At every meal, the people I sat with would make me laugh until I thought my sides would split. I don't think I have ever laughed more in five consecutive days than at SSI.
I am also excited to be in the Ambassador League, it has already been a wonderful learning experience. SSI has been a great blessing to me in many ways, I'm already anticipating next summer.
