"Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to become stronger citizens! Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks." --Phillip Brooks
I'm a 1991 graduate of the Washington Governor's School For Citizen Leadership--or G-School for short. G-School took 100 16 year olds from every race, creed, and socioeconomic background possible and for four (in my year's case three because of Shoreline school district strikes in 1991) weeks held intense learning exercises and discussions about Race and racism, Environment, and Government. This was one of the most intense, mind altering experiences of my life, and I owe G-School for giving me the nerve to go on other adventures, for example traveling to Russia. If you are a G-School graduate from any year or state, I'd like to hear from you! Ideally I'd like to get an (off-line) database going on the current whereabouts and (mis?)adventures of graduates.
If you are indeed a Washington State G-School Fellow, you should be aware that as of summer '95 Governor's School actually died, and depends upon us to bring it back to life. I propose we network through the Internet, band together, and give G-School a major dose of CPR. Contact me if you're interested.
Commitment 
Courage 
Clarity 
Caring 
Community 
Focus Groups 
Co-Facilitators Feedback Discussions Free Time Journals Dorm Life Late Night Talks Basketball Tournament Dances IMPACT Ski Walk Pictionary Swamp Activity Trust Activities 
Falling 360 Degree Rotation Blindfold & Blindmute Community Scan Threads Expressive Arts Political Economy River God Government Ayn Rand Discussion & Firing Line Moral Dilemmas Skits & Discussion Personal Passions/Commitments of Being American Skills Rotation Spider Web Wizards, Giants, Elves Creative Thinking Issues Discussions Effective Presentations Advocacy Exercise Negotiating Change Panels Need to Know Stereotype Gangs Leadership Justice System Chemical Dependency Buff Brains Challenges Behavioral Styles Blue Supremacy Post-It Note Activity Gender Issues Post-It Note Activity Knapsack Presentation Affirmative Action Discussion Relaxation/Healing Activity & Rabbi's Gift Ethnic Celebration Negotiating Change Free Market Economy Discussion Persian Gulf Simulation Weyerhauser Fieldtrip Community Service Project With Focus Group Governor's Breakfast Re-Entry Role Play Closing Ritual Credo Writing
Intrigued? Great! Check out a step into life after Governors' School: Vision 2100. Anyone interested in becoming a member of, volunteer for, or making a financial contribution to the Washington Leadership Institute, Governor's School, or related programs should call the Washington Leadership Institute's office at (206) 296-5630.
The ambitious new changes to the G-Skool section are in loving memory of Chris Johnson.
The rest of us still have time to change the world. Here I go...
During the summer of 1995 I traveled to Russia to study language, culture, and disability rights first hand. I spent more than three weeks with 13 other delegates in Moscow and Tver--formerly called Kalinen--hosted by MIUSA's sister organization, The Adventure Club. This was extremely intense, we were constantly moving. We met many other Russian disability organizations, such as The All-Russia Society for the Disabled and The Russian Society for the Blind. We traveled to factories specially designed for the blind or the deaf to work in, and of course we enjoyed overnight visits with home-stay families. We even had the exhilarating experience of camping in the Russian wilderness for five days. Lastly we visited numerous art and historical museums and famous landmarks, such as Red Square and the Kremlin.
Take the Plunge. During Spring Break '98, instead of going home to Seattle, I went to Spokane for four days and participated in Plunge, an urban outreach program through St. Thomas More and The Common Ministries on campus. For four days, 15 students from Washington State University and the University of Idaho worked with many charities in Spokane, reaching out to the poor and the homeless. We lived in a very real homeless shelter called the House of Charity. I personally got to work with the Spokane Food Bank, The United Methodist Soup Kitchen, and the YWCA Transition School, which in some cases, teaches children still living on the streets! I got to help take a group of 8-year olds to the circus. Please e-mail me if you'd like to know more about those experiences.
ON SABBATICAL: I am currently taking a year off from college to deal with college burn-out and some other difficulties. In the past year or so I've learned a lot about clinical depression, how common it really is, and how easily it can be treated once you decide to set your feet upon the path to healing. At this time I've been declared "depression free" but I know it could recur at any time. I don't say that to bum you or myself out