I had the opportunity to go to a leadership camp for two days at my new school, Mount Wachusett Community College. I wasn't really looking forward to waking up at 6 in the morning and being there for longer than a school day. In fact, when the mornings came, I honestly considered falling back asleep and acting as if I had forgotten. I knew I had to go, not only because the camp was mandatory, but because I knew that somewhere along the way I would learn something. All I had to do was be open to what people had to say to me. In the end, I learned a few things and gained some knowledge. I noticed a few things and realized that I hadn't wasted 100% of my time.
Tuesday was the first day. I really questioned that day afterwards as I reflected on some weird meditation I had to do for like, 10 minutes. "You're in a dark room. You can't see anything. Suddenly, your foot hits something. It's stairs. You climb up the stairs. With each step you think of something that's on your mind. As you climb farther, let those thoughts go. Then, you see a pinhole light..." I almost fell asleep.
Along with that weird workshop we broke wooden boards with our hands. I was terrified and I felt the world spinning as the guy explained what we would have to do. We would first practice with paper and go in front of everyone (40+ people probably). Normally I don't particularly enjoy doing things in large crowds, especially when I could fail. So, I skipped the paper by putting it under my seat and acting as if I had already gone. The wood breaking came and I figured that it would be good for me to step out of my comfort zone (something I've been trying very hard to do lately). I did and I practiced placing my palm in the middle in front of everyone and with the Rocky song playing in the background I felt like I would be fine. I broke the board with my first try (yay!). Breaking the board was an accomplishment in and of itself, but I was more happy with myself that I did something I normally wouldn't have done.
There was something I learned my first day more than anything else; It's okay to be social and step out of your comfort zone. If you really know me I'm pretty loud and I can make funny side comments or something (my family can testify for me. I think I give them headaches...). At home I'm known to run around the house full of energy and badly singing. Obviously this doesn't always happen (we all have our bad days), but it does indeed happen at times. But outside of the home, I'm a little different. For people who don't know me too well I'm pretty quiet and may not say too much. Lately I feel I've been getting better (and that's all thanks to a lot of work and different things) with socializing and stepping out from my nice comfy blanket of safety/security. I've come a long way since even...April (EFY and Youth Conference have helped this further along).
I was tested a few times with social-ness my first day. We did some interactive games where we were split into groups and then given questions to discuss with different partners. It was a slight challenge but it slowly got easier and easier. I even made a couple of friends.
Today we did some service. I helped a few other people clean the MWCC library. It was quite the task but I enjoyed my time. After we had lunch (and did some other things) we went to another workshop. This guy talked about reflecting on our experience. We talked about a few other things too. But one thing that I noticed especially today was how much these teenagers I was with wanted to do good things. I didn't hear a single complaint from anyone about their 3-4 hour service project. They all understood the effects of service and how it really helps people. We all realized how it's a lot easier than we think to talk to someone we don't know. In the end, we all had a great experience.
At least 20 of us are 16-17 year olds going off to college in a matter of a couple of weeks. The others will also be participating in a program at the Mount. A couple others are just graduated seniors starting again too. One woman who participated was considerably older than us (probably mid to late 40's, maybe even early 50's). We all came away learning a lot. I think there are some people who don't think teenagers do much other than go to school, and even then they don't do much. I'm here to say that that's the opposite of the truth. There are sooo many kids out there who want to do good and challenge themselves. I'm glad I got to spend my days with a large group of teenagers who are doing great things.
Today's third quote: "A little step may be the beginning of a great journey."
I believe this. The steps that I've taken, the steps that all of us teenagers (and an adult) took over the past two days, will help propel us into a better direction. I remember back during my Freshman year when I literally wanted to drop out of school. I was beyond done with it. I hated it. I hated the work, I hated being at school. I didn't want to do things that I didn't care about (which back then was almost every class I took). I've made it a long way with a lot of help from a lot of people (who may or may not know it).
In the end, my review of Leadership Camp at the Mount is good. It may have been tiring long days with some really weird workshops, but I learned a couple of things about myself and also others.
---Maggie
Tuesday was the first day. I really questioned that day afterwards as I reflected on some weird meditation I had to do for like, 10 minutes. "You're in a dark room. You can't see anything. Suddenly, your foot hits something. It's stairs. You climb up the stairs. With each step you think of something that's on your mind. As you climb farther, let those thoughts go. Then, you see a pinhole light..." I almost fell asleep.
Along with that weird workshop we broke wooden boards with our hands. I was terrified and I felt the world spinning as the guy explained what we would have to do. We would first practice with paper and go in front of everyone (40+ people probably). Normally I don't particularly enjoy doing things in large crowds, especially when I could fail. So, I skipped the paper by putting it under my seat and acting as if I had already gone. The wood breaking came and I figured that it would be good for me to step out of my comfort zone (something I've been trying very hard to do lately). I did and I practiced placing my palm in the middle in front of everyone and with the Rocky song playing in the background I felt like I would be fine. I broke the board with my first try (yay!). Breaking the board was an accomplishment in and of itself, but I was more happy with myself that I did something I normally wouldn't have done.
There was something I learned my first day more than anything else; It's okay to be social and step out of your comfort zone. If you really know me I'm pretty loud and I can make funny side comments or something (my family can testify for me. I think I give them headaches...). At home I'm known to run around the house full of energy and badly singing. Obviously this doesn't always happen (we all have our bad days), but it does indeed happen at times. But outside of the home, I'm a little different. For people who don't know me too well I'm pretty quiet and may not say too much. Lately I feel I've been getting better (and that's all thanks to a lot of work and different things) with socializing and stepping out from my nice comfy blanket of safety/security. I've come a long way since even...April (EFY and Youth Conference have helped this further along).
I was tested a few times with social-ness my first day. We did some interactive games where we were split into groups and then given questions to discuss with different partners. It was a slight challenge but it slowly got easier and easier. I even made a couple of friends.
 |
| I may not have risked everything by talking to strangers, but I did risk something. I'm reaching for a dream that one day I can become better at talking to people I don't know. This will just help me reach other dreams I have. |
At least 20 of us are 16-17 year olds going off to college in a matter of a couple of weeks. The others will also be participating in a program at the Mount. A couple others are just graduated seniors starting again too. One woman who participated was considerably older than us (probably mid to late 40's, maybe even early 50's). We all came away learning a lot. I think there are some people who don't think teenagers do much other than go to school, and even then they don't do much. I'm here to say that that's the opposite of the truth. There are sooo many kids out there who want to do good and challenge themselves. I'm glad I got to spend my days with a large group of teenagers who are doing great things.
 |
| We all should try to be our best to influence the world in a good way, not in a bad way. "Be in the world, not of it." |
I believe this. The steps that I've taken, the steps that all of us teenagers (and an adult) took over the past two days, will help propel us into a better direction. I remember back during my Freshman year when I literally wanted to drop out of school. I was beyond done with it. I hated it. I hated the work, I hated being at school. I didn't want to do things that I didn't care about (which back then was almost every class I took). I've made it a long way with a lot of help from a lot of people (who may or may not know it).
In the end, my review of Leadership Camp at the Mount is good. It may have been tiring long days with some really weird workshops, but I learned a couple of things about myself and also others.
---Maggie
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