AYC vs. College Education

Mr. Armstrong often stressed that the proper form of education should teach one “how to live, not just how to make a living.”

What exactly does this mean for campers at AYC?

At camp, ministers gave daily lectures teaching how to live. “How to live?” one might say. “Of course I know how to live—I eat, drink, sleep; do whatever I need to sustain myself.” It is natural for human beings to do these things. The matter doesn’t necessarily involve what you do, but rather how you do it. This involves eating nutritious food, getting a sufficient amount of sleep, and even controlling your thoughts and emotions.

A unique element of the lectures at AYC 2009 was that they were directed specifically to God’s youth—those unconverted and yet relatively unscathed by some of life’s toughest experiences.

One of the most memorable lectures was on true manhood, given by Mr. Kevin Denee. Through this lecture, we learned the key characteristics that define manhood: strength, character, mental stability, health, confidence, purpose, drive, intelligence, initiative, emotional maturity, and the importance of quality.

In contrast to the education college provides, these lectures offered guidance regarding the proper way to live.

At college, each student selects a highly specific trade he will eventually practice regularly in the workplace once he graduates. The college curriculum attempts to provide a well-rounded education, but only in one area.

As a music education major, I have started down a path that will lead me to become a music teacher. There is little space in my schedule for classes that don’t involve music.

However, the knowledge that these music classes offer is purely technical, albeit advanced or specialized. This knowledge, even if well-refined, cannot automatically make an individual happy or successful.

The focus of a college education is to teach necessary skills to build a career to sustain oneself. College education does not build understanding, wisdom and character in the same way that AYC teaches these attributes through lectures, counseling in person with ministers, and a fair measure of correction. AYC is a “taste test” of what it will be like to be a leader in God’s kingdom.

No matter where you go or what you do in life, pressure, appearing in various forms, will attempt to stop you from accomplishing your goals. Sometimes, especially for someone in God’s Church, you will even be pressured to behave in a way that may appear to lead you directly to your goals, but are against what you know is right.

My experiences at college proved to me that its atmosphere provides a point-blank shotgun blast of such pressures. Drugs, premarital sex, laziness, rebellion and aggression openly exist in this low-supervisory environment where colleagues often attempt to explain how these negative tools will help you achieve happiness and success.

I can recall being overwhelmed with joy during my first few weeks of college, free from the living restrictions I “suffered” at home: an early bedtime, dessert only once a day after dinner, home-cooked food, and the constant put-your-money-in-the-bank reminder. Little did I know that taking a lax approach to these rules while I was living without my parents would lead to multiple problems on my own: extended periods of sickness, grade disputes, and even financial troubles. Succumbing to the pressure to disobey my ingrained morals led me into complex and painful situations from which I had to learn.

However, at AYC, one need not learn the difficult way.

The AYC environment encourages campers to make proper decisions. This doesn’t mean pressure doesn’t exist at camp. Rather, there is pressure to behave correctly and exude a positive attitude.

Campers unanimously agreed that they experienced the most pressure when they gave a speech. Though feelings of pain, inadequacy and intense periods of mental drought plagued them, it was not destructive pressure. These were merely growth pains along the path to success.

After giving three speeches at AYC, I’ve gained confidence—a prerequisite leadership quality. Armed with this confidence, I feel assured that no obstacle will repeal me from success in the future.

Collaboration among campers, staff and ministers constituted the pressures, lectures, fellowship and wholesome living at Ambassador Youth Camp 2009. With guidance, my fellow campers and I developed the fruits of leadership while learning how to live.