The following student report was submitted by Ambassador League Agent Richard P. during the 2009-2010 League.
Mission: Tactics - Final Report
"I'm going to try my best to give a year worth remembering to you, Rick Peake."
~ Kendall Wingrove
Wow. That was a bit of a loaded sentence. This year has been more full of good fun, bad puns, hard work, friendship, laughter, sorrow, and God than I would have thought possible. The Student Statesmanship Institute played a huge part in much that happened.
"Ok," I thought, "I can get through this list: book reports, Biblical word studies, legislative work, interviews, letters to the editor, and more. I can get these things done." Do them; yes, but without help: no! When we first started our run toward finishing the Ambassador League I dragged along. I would write something and then give it to Mr. Wingrove, my mentor, and he would speedily send it back to me after reviewing it. I'd wait awhile and then send it to headquarters. I was sleepwalking through the assignments; never fully awake and alert.
While I got some work done; we were getting nowhere fast. November finally came along and with it some drastic changes. I was no longer allowed to send reports in when I "felt" like it; one report was due each week at five o'clock Friday. Since then we've been tearing through the assignments. I got notes of encouragement from the staff, smiles from my parents, and positive comments from adults who thought the program was simply incredible.
The hardest thing I had to learn wasn't anything to do with a specific requirement in the program. It wasn't the delicate art of adding things to my schedule or writing or giving speeches or anything like that. It was something far simpler yet harder - learning to listen to the advice of someone older and wiser than me and putting into practice what he said. I'm blessed to know Mr. Wingrove. When I first met him I lamented the fact that I wouldn't get to talk very much, as he had so much to say.
Since then I've learned that as a young man the best thing I can do to prepare for the future is not to say anything, but rather listen to this person older than me. This is hard. I like to talk, push a bit for my own way, and generally do things at a pace I establish. But when it pertains to the Ambassador League I've learned to put aside my ideas, take a step back, and listen to better ones! I've never regretted it since.
I've learned a lot this year. I'm grateful to the SSI staff for making this program a reality. I'm grateful for the support I've gotten from people willing to help me succeed. But most of all, I'm thankful for Mr. Wingrove and all the encouragement, prayer, guidance, and time he's given to help me move forward. I would not be succeeding in this venture without him. Could I have done it? Maybe. Could I have done it this well? No.
In conclusion this year has given me a very valuable lesson, one that I hope to carry with me elsewhere. Proverbs says, "Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed." That, combined with the quality of the adviser, can make for a truly great success.
My lesson is humbling. I must continue looking beyond me and listen to what other people are saying. While I don’t need to be a "people pleaser" it is important to know that God's wisdom is scattered throughout His people and they can all help you to a better place.
