Personal Narrative: My Youth Group Leader Mr. Deitrick

Though sometimes people mistake me as outgoing person, I consider myself a reserved. It is hard for me to meet new people and be completely myself. Sometimes I fear that this has the potential to hold me back from experiencing great things and meeting exceptional people. This fear stems from the time where I almost missed on the single-most life changing event I have experienced thus far in my short seventeen years. I will always be internally grateful for all those watching over me that I did not let my inhibitions stop me from attending the transformative experience that came in a leadership conference called, Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership or more commonly HOBY.

With every great person, there are others behind them supporting them. One person that inspired me was, Dr. Yvonne Thornton, her story reminded me of myself. For example; when she stated her father brought her a car so she would never have to get in the car with a male (something my dad did). Also her rabbit theory, which is the way my family taught me, never cheat, but always learn from the next whether dealing with life or school. My Aunt Brenda and Uncle Cliff also inspired me in many ways. All my life I saw them be nothing but the best, they taught me lessons of life, how to be better, and how to treat others. My Aunt and Uncle taught me always do better than before, never let anybody tell me I’m not good enough, only except or higher. I can honestly say they are great inspiration to me and what I strive to be in the future. My Aunt Brenda’s words of wisdom are; “Remember God is always first in your

Church, temple, sanctuary, or the Lords’s house, these are just a few names that your average person might call the place you come to worship God, I have always called it home. The Church I have been attending, Memorial Baptist Church, which is also where I attend high school, I have been attending since I was the age of three years old. Moving to the area that my family lives in now, I do not believe is any accident. At the age of two years old, my father was stationed in Tennessee for the military. After passing away from brain cancer, my Mother moved my two older sisters and me to Killeen Texas, to be closer to her family. Memorial Baptist Church was the only church we have ever been members of since moving to Texas, it has always felt like

My youth pastors Justin and Bob are people that I have always looked up to and wanted to be like. They worked for the middle school and high school groups so I spent a lot of time learning from them. I have gone on many trips with them such as backpacking in Yosemite, mission trips to Mexico, houseboating at the Sacramento Delta, and Snowboarding trips to Tahoe. They taught me so much from a young age about respect, and most importantly being a man of god. I feel like being around Justin and Bob as well as the rest of the church as helped keep me from getting into trouble and given me morals to live by. I still go to Carmel Presbyterian Church when I am visiting home and still really enjoy it even though I am back to sitting in the Sanctuary.

Camp Ozark and its partner youth group, Ozone helped me in high school to develop my relationship with The Lord and my purpose to serve Him. The leaders and counselors that I knew encouraged me and guided me as I got to know Jesus. They are one of my biggest influences in wanting to do ministry in college and after. My relationship with my dad was something that hindered my self-perception and my relationship with Jesus. We had a tough relationship, as he fought a lot with my mom and also dealt with depression. I had a hard time understanding God as a perfect father, but over time I have come to learn what it means to have a perfect Heavenly Father, one that loves me unconditionally and rejoices in me. I have always had high expectations for

Throughout my adolescence, I have attended five different schools. They each had their pros and cons, but ultimately, I left each one except for Christian Brothers High School. For Middle School, I attended Lausanne; however, it became far too expensive. After Lausanne, I went to Germantown High School at the beginning of my Freshman year. This turned out to be one of my worst mistakes which, in turn, became one of my greatest failures.

Pastor Dave, or PD, as I knew him, was a loving, funny, honest man. He always put everyone before himself. Every time I needed a little pick me up, he always knew how to make me laugh and put a smile on my face. SHOW HOW HE DID THIS There were many activities he loved including the outdoors and softball. Every Sunday, during the spring and summer, he would be out on the ball field after church ready to win another softball game. He loved to be out there with many other men from the church including his own son. He loved being outdoors no matter if it was blazing hot or freezing cold. I remember going to his house in the middle of winter when it was snowing and

I relate to David story. I was the same way in school, couldn't stay focused, hard to learn. He was lazy and was just trying to get by. Once he got off to college he gave up. Growing up I did a lot of the same things David did. I was always wprried bout how my peers thought of me and I just wanted to fit in so I started falling behind. Did the minimum just to get by, Honestly I was lazy. Only difference is I didn't finish high school. Before senior year even started I was pregnant and couldn't complete. I was so sick it wasnt funny. I went back and got my GED thats the first thing I can say I accomplished. Went to college afterwards and its like history repeated its self. Wasnt focused, was worried about all the wrong things, eventually I dropped

When registration time rolled around in fall 2015, I only needed 12 hours to graduate in May; however, I knew I would be bored and yearned for a class that was meaningful and would end my college career on a positive note. When Dr. May mentioned the mentoring at-risk youth class I was hooked. Although he tried to talk everybody out of it, I knew that this was going to be a perfect fit for me. I have always enjoyed working with youth, whether it was through coaching cheerleading, volunteering in the local elementary school, or spending afternoons at a halfway house for abused and neglected children. By signing up for the mentoring program I was able to try something I had never tried before— using my love for youth to create a lifelong one-on-one

There have been two major opportunities that have shaped and impacted me: serving with Calvary Kids Care and watching a girl’s cabin on Thursday nights at Camp Brookwoods and Deer Run. I started volunteering with Calvary Kids Care my freshman year in high school. The first time that I ever held a baby, I was terrified. I had no idea if I was holding her correctly, or if I looked as uncomfortable on the outside as I felt on the inside. The little ball of life that I held in my hands kept trying to snuggle closer, but I held the baby away from me, afraid that I would crush it if I let it get too close. This first experience led to many, and thus my partnership with Calvary Kids Care was formed. I started to work with the kids, mainly newborns

Think back to one of the most fun memories you have of when you were a kid. Maybe it was at an amusement park or a summer camp or simply a weekend trip with your parents. Whether it was a day, a week, or an entire summer, it was a time you wish had never ended. That blissful memory is what is given to the foster children at the Christian organization of Royal Family Kids Camp every year. Some of them for the first time, get to experience water fights, mud pits, bike riding, fishing, story time, or even a simple birthday party. But the most amazing thing that happens at Camp is that the abused, neglected, and abandoned children of Marion County have a chance to understand love all throughout the week that they can keep with them for the rest of their lives.

As of 2011, my connection to the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization is through my big brother, Tom Griffin. During my free time, I enjoy playing my two favourite instruments, the violin and piano. These two instruments intrigue me because of their complexity and difficulty to play. Some of my hobbies include: maintaining my violin, creating electrical circuits and systems, photography and finally, troubleshooting and repairing everyday items. Maintaining my violin includes correctly positioning several key components that help with tone and correct sound transfer, tuning the strings, making minor adjustments to maximize its longevity, and cleaning the violin. I have always found that creating circuits from simple electrical components give

My second year of going to the Scott Reese Leadership Camp was the 25th year of the camp, and early on in the week we were all given a quarter dollar, a 25 cent piece, with instructions to find a point in time to take a moment aside with Doctor Scott Reese and give him the quarter with a congratulation on 25 years of a successful camp. During one of our lunch breaks, I walked up to the staff table, and with a glance I let him know I wanted to steal a moment with him, and he started to walk towards me as well. I had cleverly tucked my quarter into the palm of my hand, and as we got close I held it out to shake his, and as I flipped my hand over to drop the quarter into his during the shake, I told him “Congratulations on 25 years of this camp!” As I said this, I let go of his hand; I watched his face as he went from a look of confusion when he realized there was now something in his hand, to the brightest, happiest look you can see on a grown man’s face when he realized what it was, and what it meant. He didn’t know what to say. I couldn’t help but think back to how

After several years his family and mine became close and Pastor Travis always made sure to look out for my sister and I. He became a positive male role model in our lives and made sure that we did well in school and hung out with people who would also make positive impacts in our lives. Due to his involvement in my life I became heavily involved in my church and took on many responsibilities by the time I was in 8th grade. I also went on numerous trips with him and fellow youth group student's to places like Ocean City, Orlando, Rocky Mount,and Honduras. On each trip I evolved into a better version of myself and that was due to the expectations and values that Travis had taught me to hold myself to.

Interviewing several pastors can be eye opening in that you will begin to see different character qualities, disciplines and where they are in their spiritual journey. My intention was to interview several pastors, however, I was unable to obtain the responses needed to complete a study such as that. I did get to meet with one pastor, and I believe that it was truly difficult for him to answer most of the questions even after giving him some time to think about each question. My interview was with a very intelligent and spiritual man named Les Harvey. He is currently serving at the Church of the Highlands Greystone campus under many great leaders.