The process and what you learn with YMAD

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     Welcome back to blog #5!

    Youth Making A Difference (YMAD) teaches you a whole bunch of things that you can and will apply to your daily life. More about that below. If you know me, I love talking about my India trip and everything about it, so if you want to skip over this, I won't keep you from doing so, but it is filled with a bunch of handy information so, lets get started shall we?!

    Let's start at the beginning! This program is for high school juniors and seniors. In order to get into the program you have to apply either your sophomore or junior year depending on which year you want to go. I wanted to go my Junior year, so I applied the fall of  my Sophomore year. You'll fill out an application at this website Youth Making a Difference Teens - Youth Making a Difference (ymad.org). They currently are not accepting any applications due to COVID-19. But be sure to keep a look out on their website and social media accounts to know when applications open up again if you are interested! After you submit your application, you will be asked to make an interview appointment. This is how the two expedition groups will get to know you more on a personal level by asking your questions about you; hobbies, family, work, extra-curricular activities, etc. Nothing to be worried about! Once you finish your interview you should hear back from them in a couple weeks later. I heard back with which group I would be in and where we would be going sometime in January, since meetings start up the next month (February).

    Meetings are 1-2x a month and last about three hours long. During those meetings you will get to know the group you'll be spending the next ten months which is including the two weeks you'll be with them in November. During those 10 months leading up to your trip, you will learn seven different values. Those values are: Integrity, Vision, Inspiration, Courage, Compassion, Forgiveness and Gratitude. Not only will those seven values play an important role leading up to the expedition, but you will continue to use them even after you come back home. One of the values that I have worked on and continue to work on is Integrity. Integrity, to me means that when  someone text me I respond within 24 hours or less. That tells the person communicating with you, that you are aware of the upcoming plans/activities and onboard with what is expected of you. My view and experiences with Integrity may be different from what someone else may define as Integrity, but we all have the same goal. 

    One of the things I feel like I should mention is Life Lenses. My life lenses changed by the time I came back home from my expedition because I was a different person and saw the world in a different perspective. For example, my three life lenses that I used to define myself and my views of the world included, compassionate, loving, and something else that I can't remember. 

    Along with the 1-2x a month meetings that you are required to attend, you are also responsible to be at the mandatory parent meetings, the two overnight weekend retreats, packing day, and any other important dates/meetings. With all the meetings, fundraising, etc. you may and most likely will be overwhelmed, but do not stress over it! You are not the only one who feels that way! Whatever the obstacles you encounter along the way will pay off, and it will all be worth it, so be proud when you overcome them obstacles! 

    YMAD not only teaches you about values, fundraising, it also teaches/shows you more of who you are and what you can accomplish. You learn things about yourself that you didn't know. After I came back in December 2019, I left different and I had a stronger desire to serve and travel to different places. I also learned the importance of friendships. My trip might have been over a year ago, but I still keep in contact with members of my group. I have some on full-time missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, some at Utah State University, along with four other friends enduring their senior year of high school. Sometimes it's only a comment on a post or story on Instagram that can lead to a full conversation almost always reverting back to India and the experience itself, or maybe it's a happy birthday text. Whatever it may be, we still keep in contact, because they are  the people that experienced what I did, and that is something that we all share in common; the 2-week expedition to Kullu, India. I also, keep in contact with my school translator and some kids who live in India because who doesn't want to miss anything?! 

     I have learned so much about myself and have changed so many life's, I don't know where I would be without them. @ymad thank you for this wonderful experience, I will forever cherish it! For those of you that stuck around till the very end, I really appreciate it! If you have any questions, reach out by leaving a comment below, or DMing me on Instagram. Happy New Year!!!!

@adventures.with.liberty











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