The following student report was submitted by Ambassador League Agent Jay F. during the 2009-2010 League.
Mission: Tactics - SSI Experience
In June of 2009, I had pretty much planned out everything that I was going to do for the summer: work, study, and go to SSI. Despite what it sounds like, going to government camp would have been one of the last things on my list of “fun” summer activities. I mean, what kind of kid wants to spend a week of their precious summer vacation filling their brain with tons of facts about a government that they have little or no say in? Well, I would. I know that it seems strange to some people, but SSI is not your typical government camp. While you do spend a week going to classes and listening to lectures, doing this at SSI is far from boring. The thing that draws me back summer after summer, however, is not the great classes or the chance to learn about how the American government works, although I do appreciate those, too. The thing that hooks me every time is the people. Every summer, I go to SSI and meet people that have a great impact on my life. For me, going to a camp where there are a bunch of Christians, where I can have fun and learn at the same time, is just too good a chance to pass up.
Last summer was my third time attending SSI, and I was in the Mock Trial Track. I had so much fun, and I was able to meet a ton of new people, and to see many old friends. I learned a lot about how the Michigan Court system works, including meeting with the opposing council before the trial to discuss what stipulations would be admitted, and also how to properly examine witnesses and present evidence in court. Doing these things was difficult at first, but I learned to embrace the challenges as they came to me. By the time the week was over, I didn’t want to leave. However, I walked away having learned many key lessons, including diligence, critical thinking, and teamwork. I am extremely grateful for those experiences.
I believe that SSI has lived up to its name. It is, indeed, a student statesmanship institute. It is the kind of place you walk out of knowing that you do, in fact, possess the power to affect major change. You learn that God has given us the ability to recognize problems in our world, but also to overcome those problems. If we recognize the opportunity to make a difference, but choose to ignore it, then we aren’t living up to our full potential. This failure to rise to the occasion is the very thing that keeps us from receiving the many blessings that God has in store for us, blessings beyond anything that we can even imagine.
I believe that the things I have learned at SSI will stay with me throughout my life, and I will be able to use what I have learned in the future to become both a more active citizen and a more effective communicator. I hope and pray that others will be able to attend SSI and experience the same joy that I feel as I return each summer.
