The following student report was submitted by Ambassador League Agent Kjh-Lajhni S. during the 2009-2010 League.
Mission: Tactics - SSI Experience
During a parent-teacher conference my freshman year, my English teacher recommended that I attend SSI. I was a little skeptical at first. I had never really been into politics, nor did I want to go for a week and be constantly bombarded with politics. On the drive to Lansing, I decided that I defiantly didn’t want to go. Not because it was a summer camp, but because it was a political science camp. On the drive I was going back and forth as to weather I really wanted to go or not. While we were eating lunch I decided I defiantly didn’t want to go. Although I knew it would look good on college transcripts. My family told me that I wouldn’t be returning home that day. When we arrived on campus I was instantly turned mute, which is unusual since I am a very talkative person.
While at SSI, I was terrified that I was going to fail. Fail at making new friends, at being normal, and even at writing a speech. Everything was building up in my life at home. Stress from being away from home, and from being in a new environment. As I got to know my roommates, and suitemates, I had a feeling that everything was going to be okay. I remember sitting in and listening to the lectures. I finally realized that I was giving this place a real chance, since I was only giving it my mind. But I noticed that I was not putting my heart into it. While listening to one of the speakers I finally understood why I was at SSI. I started to listen more intently to the speakers. Each lecture seemed to answer a question I had. The hardest part fro me was writing the speech. I remember everyone was depending on me to make out bill hit home. I felt the stress and just couldn’t write my speech at all. I broke down in tears and became completely dysfunctional. I went back to my room and just relaxed. I prayed that God would give me the words, because I knew I couldn’t write that speech. After that prayer I was able to write the speech in a matter of minutes. Those moments were the best moments in my life so far, because I could truly feel that God was right there with me.
After SSI I couldn’t wait to go back. It was a week that I didn’t waste. It wasn’t just something that would look good on college transcripts. SSI wasn’t a vacation. SSI was a good experience (and one that I needed at the time), a chance to learn about my world, and how my government works. I was taught the importance of praying for those in authority over us. SSI was important to me as it should be for everyone. Not because it’s a camp, or even because it’s a Christian camp; but because we all need to know and understand what our lawmakers do. We as Americans, and even more a Christians, need to know how to best pray for our lawmakers. As we leave this recession, we need pray for our lawmakers to pass appropriate laws, and for our countries financial situation. We need to remember out Pledge of Allegiance to this country, that as Christians we will pray to God, who our country was founded on, to strengthen our populace and our law makers.
