Below you will find a speech written and performed by Keri Kerns. Keri is a HoneyRocker and daughter of Don and Denise Kerns - Don serves as our Site and Facilities Manager. Keri is a freshman at Wheaton and gave this speech in her Communications 101 class this Spring. We thought you'd enjoy this great speech, and the creative way it "markets" HoneyRock!
Way to go Keri! I hope you got an "A".
Why Wheaton Students Should Go To HoneyRock
I. Attention
A. Have you hit the freshman frenzy, the sophomore slump, the junior jungle, or the senior speed bump?
B. You know, that time when your head pops up from that greasy stupe burger, you break out into a cold sweat, you get the deer in the headlights look in your eye and you think, “Who am I? What am I doing here? What is my purpose?”
C. Those 3 simple questions make way for the 3 major dilemmas I see facing college students today, and more specifically Wheaton students.
II. Need
A. College students today face a psychological dilemma: the identity crisis.
1. In the past 5 years, 81% of counseling centers on college and university campuses report an increase in the number of students struggling with psychological disorders reported Michael Lastoria in his article for Growth Journal.
2. This leaves us to question what could be causing such trauma for college students.
3. College is a time of extreme development for young adults.
a. In the words of David Johnstone in his review of a “Conceiving the Christian College” written by our very own Dr. Litfin, “The traditional undergraduate age is one where students often, for the first time, encounter the serious personal implications of faith, calling, relationships and self discipline.”
b. Lanstoria fleshes out the struggle even more as he discusses the pressure for students to achieve academically, maintain social popularity, live up to parental expectations, and adjust to culture shock, in the effort to find identity.
4. Making it even harder for the students to withstand this pressure is the lack of familial support.
a. In a study on identity crisis conducted by Ernest Andrews, the impact of the family becomes quite evident.
b. Explaining the trend of self-discovery in College, He continues to discuss how the absence of support, encouragement, and direction usually provided by the direct parental relationship can be detrimental if not found from a surrogate source. Andrews advocates that without these things, stable identity realization becomes difficult, if not impossible.
B. College students also face an educational dilemma: being unique.
1. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, unemployment was at a striking 9.7 % as of March 2010.
2. In such a competitive job market, it is important to not only be a qualified job candidate, but also a unique one.
3. At Wheaton, our general education requirement makes us well-rounded job applicants, but will it really make us stand out from the crowd?
C. And finally, college students face a social dilemma: being self-centered.
1. In a recent discussion with my mom after a visit home for Easter I was informed that I tend to live in my own little world and don’t realize how self-focused I am. It hurt a lot to hear.
2. After I passed the defensive stage I started to think objectively about my mother’s rebuke and I realized she was pretty right. We have so many options to invest in others and a lot of times we pass them up.
3. Granted, Wheaton students are on the upper end of the scale as far as college students who give back to their community, but we can always do more.
III. Satisfaction
A. These 3 dilemmas are rather different, but all three are equally important. So how do we go about solving them?
B. What if I told you there was a way to EXPLORE your identity in a safe and fulfilling environment while you LEARN unique skills that not only prepare you for future jobs but also for life in general. What if I told you that you could do both of these things while experiencing what it means to truly SERVE? Would you believe me?
C. It’s true, it says it right on the logo right under the name: HoneyRock. Explore. Learn. Serve.
1. Within the tight and supportive community of HoneyRock Wheaton students have an opportunity to explore their identity in Christ.
a. Students are forced to do things that challenge them, forcing them to not only rely on Christ and their peers, but also building confidence through success and learning through failure.
b. Striving to be “a place apart”, HoneyRock creates a relatively safe environment that removes or limits many of the stresses and pressures of the normal college environment.
c. In this way, HoneyRock provides a safe but effective place for students to explore their identity.
2. The many educational offerings give students a unique learning experience.
a. According to the HoneyRock website, over 15 professors serve as faculty on site offering classes in subjects ranging from psychology to Christian education in a unique environment.
b. In addition to typical classes that you would find on a college campus, HoneyRock offers classes such as wilderness first response, ropes course facilitation, and certified horsemanship.
c. The learning goes beyond classes as well. As to be expected with a summer camp program, there are many paid positions that need to be filled from office work to operations staff (who get to work with my father!) all of which provide training and real life work experience.
d. And as an added bonus to your now well-educated self, all of the above look great on a transcript or résumé!
3. HoneyRock’s strong emphasis on service comes in many forms.
a. One of the most commonly known service programs is Summer Leadership School, or SLS. SLS allows college students to take classes and minister to youth at the same time.
b. Affectionately known as work/play weekends, HoneyRock also offers opportunities for Wheaton students to take a refreshing weekend away from campus to play and relax while spending part of the weekend volunteering around the camp.
IV. Visualization
A. If you haven’t been to HoneyRock already, it might be time to consider your options.
1. It’s too late for you to participate in Passage as an incoming student, but perhaps you could lead a trip. Imagine yourself leading a group of your new fellow students as they prepare for their Wheaton experience. You’d experience the wilderness with them, laughing and crying with them as they are challenged and grow, and you’ll be challenged and grow right alongside them.
2. Maybe you’re called to join the summer staff for the season. Can’t you just see yourself waving to a group of jr. high boys as they play soccer on the field you just mowed?
B. The possibilities are almost endless! It’s time for you to make your own story as you explore, learn, and serve up at HoneyRock.
V. Call to Action
A. So my only question now is what are you waiting for?
B. Getting started on your HoneyRock experience is just a few steps away, or even just a click if you’re feeling particularly lazy.
1. We’ve got our very own slice of HoneyRock right here on campus! The HoneyRock office is located on the first floor of Schell hall, first door on the right when you walk into the building. If you want to go up to HoneyRock but aren’t sure where you would be best suited, stop in and talk to the staff, Dan Elsen and friends would be glad to give you some suggestions.
2. And if that chair in Lower Beamer is just too comfortable and you can’t seem to pick yourself up out of it, you can log on to the HoneyRock website at www.honeyrockcamp.org.
C. This is a rare opportunity we have as Wheaton students, and I urge you not to miss it.
D. So, I was starting to get a little sad thinking about this class ending and not seeing you guys every other day anymore, but now I’m not so worried, after all, I’ll see you next summer!
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Keri Kerns
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