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Presented by Kate Cook, participant in the
2008 RYLP
at the September 16, 2008 Youth Services Seminar
in Clemmons. Kate was sponsored by the Jamestown
Rotary Club
"Last night I sat down after I finished
my biology homework and started to think about
what I was going to say today. I tried, unsuccessfully,
to write a couple of introductions, but they
were all cliche and mundane. After several attempts
in vain to write something clever and catchy,
I decided I'd just wing it. I started flipping
through my old binder to jog my memory, and
between the fronts of worksheets with diagrams
and activities, and the backs of worksheets
with the occasional 'quotable quote' jotted
down, or a mini conversation with my neighbor,
I began to remember. I remembered the things
I learned about myself and my peers not only
on those worksheets and in those notes, but
also through experience. I learned about personality
types, moral reasoning, synergy, 'analysis paralysis,'
and organic farming. I learned about my Meyers-Briggs
personality type, which says that I rely on
my ability to improvise rather than planning
ahead. I learned about public embarrassment
is you're late, functioning on four hours or
less of sleep, and that boys with never ever
throw a girl the disc in ultimate frisbee, no
matter how open you are. I learned that there
are some people in this world with ideas and
personalities so interesting, you'd rather sit
in the stairwell until 7am talking with them
about life, love, and the meaning of religion
than go to bed or eat breakfast. I learned that
in just one week, you can get to know fifty-four
of the smartest, most talented, unique individuals
you'll ever meet, and still get stuff done.
I learned more than I could put into words.
One of the more enlightening and refreshing
experiences was watching as my peers had intelligent,
open-minded, respectful discussions with people
they didn't necessarily agree with. The Center
for Creative Leadership believes that in order
to interact with and lead different types of
people, you have to understand where they're
coming from. Because of this, each night for
vespers there would be a speaker from a different
religion. I was afraid angry debates would erupt,
but to my surprise, I watched as my friends
listened with open minds, asked thoughtful questions,
and treated the speaker of the night with respect.
Vespers ended up being my favorite 'classroom'
time of the day.
Outside of the classroom was just as important
as inside. That's where the real discussions
took place, ranging from religion and politics
to life and happiness to pop culture and music.
Sure we had dance parties and played practical
jokes, but that's what made all the learning
stick: packing in some fun around it.
Looking through that notebook I realized it
would be hard to talk about just two or three
memorable experiences. How could I pick just
a few when the whole week was packed? How do
I narrate in under five minutes the most life-changing
week ever? I realized that I owed so much of
who I am now to the Rotary Youth Leadership
Program, and to the Jamestown Rotary who sponsored
me, making this incredible opportunity possible.
I realized that I owed the program, the Jamestown
Rotary, Guilford College, and my school much
more than a half-assembled jumble of thoughts
on a couple of notecards. So with my memories
in mind, my thoughts fresh on my brain, and
nostalgia creeping up slowly, I got out a pen
and paper, and I began to write.
This is an incredible program. I walking in
with eyes wide open, and walked out with my
mind wide open. I have applied the things I
learned to my life at home in many different
areas. RYLP has made me a better, more informed
leader, team member, and person. I honestly
hope that this program can continue and expand
to encompass more and more students. The more
people this program reaches, the better. I can't
imagine a more life-altering experience."
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