Thank God I did.
I don't know if my experience was just a fluke (I don't really care if it was or not, to be honest), but everything I heard about BBS was wrong. Although... it did take a few days for me to start enjoying it.
The first few days were as chaotic as can be, and a lot of the counselors were complete jerks. God forbid anyone walk beside another person, everyone had to be walking in completely straight lines and had to learn how to eat a full meal in five minutes or less. If you spoke out of turn, walked too slow, didn't walk in straight lines, or sat down just to relax, "You are WRONG".
The thought most definitely crossed my mind of going home, I didn't want to be there and just get screamed at and stressed out for a week over nothing. I mean, going to bed at midnight and waking up at 6AM everyday for a stressful 18 hour workday isn't exactly what I wanted to do with my vacation. I toughed it out, and the experience that I got out of it was well worth the work.
I ended up being elected the prosecuting attorney for my city, Alberts, after passing the Ohio Bar Exam on my second try. I enjoyed my work and was thankful that my city elected me to defend them in court. I learned a lot on how the court system works in the state of Ohio, and got to prosecute in some pretty fun cases. I learned a lot about responsibility and the benefits of hard work. Our city won 3 out of the 4 honor flags for our county, Konold, during the week.
Although the experience at BBS is supposed to teach you about government, which mine well did, it really taught about life and growing up. These are the sort of things I enjoy.
I'd like to think I took a lot away from BBS.
There were guys from all different walks of life there with me. When I walked into the lounge on my dorm floor, I instantly looked around to see who I could start making friends with to hang out with the rest of the week. I picked out a couple guys that I thought looked like they would fit the group of people that I like, and walked over them and started to make friends. We went around the room and introduced ourselves to the group and started to get to know each other. A couple of the "weird" kids, I decided I would try to avoid as much as I can. I didn't realize that I was judging people, and I don't think many of us realize when we do it, but it is a huge mistake.
By the end of the week I was close with all of the people on my floor. We were all friends. Even the kids I said I wasn't going to hang out with. I found myself talking and laughing and goofing off with a different person every day, every hour for that matter. BBS really taught me that you can't judge anyone before you get to know them.
All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
-1 Corinthians 6:12
We did an activity where we got very personal, and in some cases talked about things that we've never talked to anyone about before. It's amazing how many people look like they don't have any problems on the outside, but are truly riddled with anxiety on the inside. This agrees with the precedent that you can never judge anyone. Also, it proved that you are never alone. Whenever I have a problem, and think that nobody understands me, I'll remember that there is somebody I can talk to that has gone through the same thing as me.
The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.
-Ecclesiastes 1:9
You are never alone.
Many of us admitted that we felt like we weren't worthy of being loved or that we weren't good enough. Everyone was surprised by the amount of people the either felt that or were currently feeling that. I saw al of those people smile just knowing they weren't alone and had people to talk to and encourage them to pick their heads up. I remember the verse:
And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
-Matthew 3:17
That proves that somebody always loves you, and that you are always "worth it and good enough" in the eyes of your creator, our God.
At the end of this activity we all cried and hugged it out like any "bros" would do. By this time, we all realized that the week was almost over and that all of these new friends we were making would soon be heading home.What a bittersweet feeling.
I truly believe that with all of the memories of the awesome band playing at all of the nightly assemblies, the fantastic keynote speakers every night, the awful food, the fatigue, the hard work days, the constant city council meetings and monotonous paperwork, I brought home 46 new friends that I will never forget, ones like Mahutma Gumbo, Jimmie Johns and Mormon Judy.
I had one of the best, if not the best, counselor in the entire program. He recognized that BBS had the opportunity to shape young men into great people as they age. He gave us a lot to think about, and always gave us time to reflect on our time there. He proved to us that reflection is necessary to learn from our past. You cannot learn from something that happened to you if you don't take the time to think about it. He read us a story every night at our nightly city meeting, and they really hit home and helped us reflect on the activities of our day. Here are some of the stories he read us, see what you can get out of them.
Who I am Makes A Difference
The Starfish Story
The Stonecutter
In conclusion of the matter, I'm very thankful that I didn't come home part way through the week, or completely decide not to go. I honestly had "The Time of My Life" and thought that it was "A Week to Shape A Lifetime".
If you ever have the opportunity to go, or have the opportunity to send a son, take it. You won't regret it.
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| Here is the map of where all of my dorm mates we from. Everywhere |
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| City Council and City Officials. "Alberts, it's just where it's at." |
-Mayor Mauer
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