Freedom Academy

Erik Gray's Journals

#journalgems

Written November 2011
Schoolwork

Erik Gray

B3- US Gov’t

Make Up Work

Freedom Academy

            Every year, two students from Cedar High (usually the future Student Body President and Vice-President) are given the chance to attend Freedom Academy. What is Freedom Academy? It is a week-long camp that does a lot of activities that deal with freedom and with the army. The theme for the week was “Freedom Isn’t Free.”

            The camp started on Sunday afternoon. We all met in the auditorium, and were split up into groups of about eight students. A counselor was assigned to our group, and we started to get to know each other. We all got along really well and became friends really fast. Our group colors were blue and green, so we started calling ourselves the “Bloogers” (BL for blue + GR for green= BLGR). That night we were introduced to how life in the army really is. One of the head guys yelled at us to get in formations, do drills, and we basically felt like a bunch of boot camp recruits. After that first night, our group was basically like a family. We all sat by each other during meals, talked a lot, and got to know each other really well.

            Throughout the week we did a bunch of activities. We were at Camp Williams, a camp right at Point of the Mountain. A lot of activities we did were on Camp Williams ground; we heard from a bunch of speakers, shot guns, went rappelling, did a ropes course, drove big tractors, shot more guns, climbed a rock wall, were part of a flag retirement ceremony, and even did a shooting simulation (a lot like what you would see on Halo of Call of Duty or something). We also had a swim/dance party, a talent show, a speech contest, a concert from a male a Cappella group, “minute to win it” games, and another dance at the end of the week.

            We also did a lot of things off base; we toured the state prison, had a SWAT team demonstration, toured a news station, visited the State Capitol, visited the State Courthouse, and toured the Air National Guard base.

            The most fun activity was definitely the dance: imagine about 100 or 150 outgoing student leaders at one place, partying like crazy. That’s exactly what those dances were like.

            My favorite activity was probably the flag retirement ceremony. It was really amazing. I have never been to one before. We listened to a recording of the whole story about the star spangled banner. When we burned the old flags, I thought it was really sad. The emotions were just so high in everyone that a lot of people were teary-eyed. That was one time that I felt really blessed to live here in a free country.

            Some of the things I learned at Freedom Academy are this:

1.      We are not here alone. The people we meet can help strengthen us and our lives. Most of us from Freedom Academy still keep in touch, through texting and Facebook, so we are able to talk about life and even share ideas about school things.

2.      America is a GREAT place.

3.      As stated in the last paragraph, we really are super blessed to live in the United States of America. We are free. Freedom is what only few countries have.

4.      Freedom isn’t free. People have given so much for our country, and we owe them a lot of respect.

            I’m really glad I got to attend Freedom Academy, I wouldn’t trade the experiences I’ve had and what I’ve learned for anything. It was truly an enlightening experience.