Hand Outs

It's pretty awesome how quickly your battery can be recharged and you can be overtaken with a positive attitude once again. As I mentioned earlier, I spent the past week and a half in Bowling Green, Ohio at Buckeye Boys State, and I had an absolute blast. There are not very many opportunities that you have in life to get together and help so many wonderful students. Many of the guys in attendence were at the top of their class, involved in student organizations, playing sports, and just all around good people. I was really fortunate with the group of guys that I got.

It is really funny when you think about it. The reason that we are supposed to be there is to help the guys learn about the Government and life. The awesome thing is that I always end up leaving with new born knowledge as well. Sometimes just when I think I have forgotten what it is like to be happy with the way life is, I have someone that arrives on my doorstep to remind me.

I can definitely say that I had that experience again. I just sit down and look back at what was going on in my life when I was 17 years old and getting ready to go into my senior year of high school. I was involved in every student organization that existed, I played football, I was in show choir, I did musical theater stuff, and I was trying to be a good student. I would hang out with my friends and watch ESPN, and have a great time. It wasn't until I went to Boys State that I realized how fortunate I really was. I met people who went to schools that had old text books...we complained when ours had pencil marks in them. I met others who had to work to help out their family... we worked so we could get the $60 blue jeans that we wanted. When I say worked, I mean retail, office filing, secretary. A farm? A Factory? Not so much. I remember one of my friends being upset because his parents were giving him the '97 Pontiac and he didn't want that. Then you meet someone whose family only has one car.

Pretty insane when you really stop and think about it. Some of us live in a bubble. I know I did for a lot of my life. I was the poor one where I lived, and that wasn't so bad. I had food onthe table, a roof over my head, and probably much more than I really deserved. So my hat goes off to everyone out there that worked harder than I did, because I was pretty lucky. I don't feel bad for anyone that had to do more work or put in more time because I know it has made each of them a better person... but it makes it pretty difficult to complain about anything when you have so much given to you.

I Know, You Don't Understand

One of the most difficult things about returning home from something such as Boys State is that not very many people can understand or relate with the experience. It's not easy. A typical conversation can go something like this. Someone: "So, what did you do this week?" Me: "Oh, I actually went to staff the American Legion Buckeye Boys State conference at Bowling Green." Someone: "Oh wow, that must have been amazing. How was it?" Me: It was a really good time. I especially enjoyed..." Someone: "Oh, I need to go now."

You get used to it after awhile. Therefore, I am going to go ahead and spare anyone the details of my experience.... for now. I just wanted to post what I have done...and it was awesome.