The following student report was submitted by Ambassador League Agent Zachary W. during the 2007-2008 League.
Ambassador League Experience
It is difficult to briefly summarize a program like the Ambassador League. Distilling into words all the things I've seen, things I've done, places I've been, and people I've met is a great challenge. The League impacted me in so many ways, and I can only share the highlights. I specifically would like to emphasize what I've learned; how the League has motivated me to do things I would not have otherwise, as well as mention some of the people I met along the way. It is only appropriate to start by sharing about my program mentor.
Some of the greatest blessings of participating in the Ambassador League came from interacting with my mentor, Kendall Wingrove. He is a press secretary for the Senate Republicans, and has been involved with the Student Statesmanship Institute and the Ambassador League for several years.
As a mentor, he provided invaluable assistance on many assignments, introducing me to key people and arranging visits to the Michigan Legislature. Kendall also functioned as a de facto writing teacher -- prior to last year I had virtually no writing experience. Through the written assignments he advised and critiqued my writing, helping me develop skills in this important area. Through the Ambassador league I have developed a deep friendship with Kendall, and working with him has been a tremendous blessing.
The League introduced me to some interesting places. I observed a legislative session and a committee meeting in Lansing, both of which were new experiences. I visited our county courthouse in Grand Rapids to view judicial proceedings. Through one of Kendall's friends, I was able to spend part of a day working in the Michigan House Office Building in Lansing. Perhaps most interesting of all, I was asked to participate in a televised town hall meeting with Governor Jennifer Granholm. I would suspect that I am the first and only Ambassador League agent to enlist the aid of Governor Granholm in completing an assignment.
The League requirements include volunteer work, and I enjoyed these assignments immensely. For campaign experience, I volunteered for the Senate Republican Campaign Committee in Lansing, as well as participating in several parades in support of Rep. Kevin Green of Kent County. I also volunteered at the Kent Career/Technical Center as a lunch line cashier, enabling me to make many friends and fulfill my community service requirement. Finally, I interned at the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies in Grand Rapids, and enjoyed it so much that I have continued there to this day.
Not all the assignments involved completing tasks or working with others. Some were intended to promote spiritual growth and gain an understanding of biblical topics. As an agent, I completed eleven biblical word studies, dealing with such matters as justice, truth, homosexuality, and civil government. These in-depth studies allowed me to dig into what the Bible said regarding each of these issues. In addition, I completed three book reports on Norman Geisler's Why I am a Christian, Bob Briner's Roaring Lambs, and D. James Kennedy's What if Jesus had Never Been Born? Of these works, Roaring Lambs in particular was a thought-provoking read, and it had a great impact on me.
Another League requirement involved completing five letters to the editor and submitting them to various newspapers. I wrote about abstinence education, blood donation age limits, teen voter pre-registration, Mike Huckabee's bid for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination, and global warming (specifically, the lack thereof). Of those five letters to the editor, four were used in several newspapers including the Grand Rapids Press, the Kalamazoo Gazette, and most recently, the SSI Observer. Writing them allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of the issue at hand, and getting some of those letters printed was icing on the cake.
Being an agent in the Ambassador League afforded me many opportunities to meet new people. In the course of completing my assignments, I greatly expanded my network. In this regard, my mentor Kendall provided immense help, connecting me with many of his professional acquaintances and friends.
I conducted five interviews over the course of the year with several local leaders. The first was an interview with my pastor, Joe Daniels. In November 2007, I had the opportunity to interview Rep. Rick Jones of Eaton County, and this was an especially interesting encounter. We talked for about an hour as Jones shared how he got into politics and offered advice for young people.
Later, I interviewed Gleaves Whitney, director of the Hauenstein Center (where I intern). I also talked with Brad Snavely, executive director of the Michigan Family Forum in Lansing, for more than an hour, discussing how God led him to his current position. Mr. Snavely also talked at length about how young people should approach a career in the professional realm. Finally, I interviewed Nathan Beach, a young Christian entrepreneur in Grand Rapids who was recently hired at Google. All the interviews were meaningful and I learned much from each.
In writing about the Ambassador League, it is important to mention the tremendous role that the Student Statesmanship Institute played in my life. I still remember my first year at SSI, and how it blew me away. The teaching was fascinating, the work was interesting, and the people were lively and fun. The students, staff, and speakers at SSI remain some of the most interesting people I've ever met. Many of the relationships I've made there will undoubtedly last a lifetime.
Before coming to SSI, I was a shy, introverted type who kept mostly to myself. I had few friends and no real self-motivation. SSI changed all that. I started working hard to develop my communication and interaction skills; I began reaching out and making friends. It seems to be working, because I now love to meet people and make friends!
SSI caused a paradigm shift in my perception of what I can do. Instead of waiting until after college to start my own business, SSI caused me to realize that I could start a business now. Instead of waiting to become a leader in my community or in my church, I can do it now. My SSI experience taught me that I can do great things with God's help NOW, not just when I'm older. SSI and the Ambassador League have motivated me to take my relationship with God to the next level. It's been like a shot of spiritual adrenaline, compelling me to be an effective ambassador for Jesus Christ.
I am so grateful that God led me to participate in these programs, and I look forward to future involvement. I believe that God will use SSI and the Ambassador League in great ways to touch the lives of many students; I know He has already used both greatly in mine.
