The following student report was submitted by Ambassador League Agent Kristina C. during the 2009-2010 League.
Mission: Tactics - SSI Experience
My experience at SSI was absolutely amazing! After attending the SSI Onsite Program, I was fully prepared to have an awesome week at the summer program as a senator. On my first day, I was not quite sure that SSI was really "my thing", or if it would meet my expectations. If only I knew how wrong I was! By day two, I was hooked. Not only were the teens incredibly amazing, but the stuff we were doing and learning about was actually fun. My first instinct when I saw the schedule of lectures and listed speakers was "Mom, take me home!" After the first session, I was amazed that I sat through it while interested. I actually enjoyed myself and looked forward to the next session.
Though I was not sure about SSI in general on day one, the moment I walked in, great Christian teens were surrounding me. All the teens were great, and by the end of the week, you could almost name everyone. I made some of the best friends, whom I still keep in contact with. SSI encouraged us to make friends with those who were not exactly like us. Before you knew it, the quietest homeschoolers in the group were laughing with the public school kids. It was great! I never felt left out neither did I witness others being excluded. The awesome thing that I noticed about all the kids is that everyone came with the purpose of learning and serving God with all of their heart, soul, and strength.
In addition to the awesome learning experiences and great friends, SSI required us to do things we never dreamed possible. I mean, by the end of the week, we were speaking to an audience on the house floor! It challenged kids who were deathly afraid of public speaking to overcome their fears. Many people were also able to explore their talents that were otherwise unknown. I saw so many kids discover that they were good at political campaigning, public speaking, and debate and never realized it. Working with a variety of people in my caucus was a challenge too. Some thought very differently than I did, and we were constantly trying to agree, but at the end, I realized that others were strong in areas that I was weak. Together, we made a great caucus by utilizing everyone’s gifts.
The speakers were also amazing at SSI. I learned so much, and I was excited to apply what I had learned in my everyday life. The topic that challenged me the most was that even though we are young, God put us here at this crazy time for a specific purpose. To actually know that God has something bigger than my dreamed planned for me is astonishing. After SSI, I realized that I have an important destiny, one that only I can fulfill. I had heard this most of my life, but at SSI, it became evident. I realized that I had talents and abilities that I can use to serve God. I now know that God is in the process of preparing me for a specific reason, and He is using SSI to help. I am amazed at the stuff that I learned there and cannot wait to go back to see what else God has in store for me!
