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Follow on Google News | Teens Go For The Gold, Are Told To Keep The Change Students Ask To Stay In School Longer20 male and female teenagers from throughout the country arrived in Eastover, South Carolina seeking gold, and were told to keep the change. They spent five days in a classroom and asked to stay even longer.
By: Joseph P Cirone WASHINGTON DC (April 10, 2008) - 20 male and female teenagers from throughout the country arrived in Eastover, South Carolina, seeking gold, and were told to keep the change. They spent five days in a classroom and asked to stay even longer. Had the scenario happened a day earlier, it could have been an April Fool’s joke, but the teens were not fools and the classroom training was not a joke. The teens had an average age of 16 and shared a common interest; but there was nothing average about them and there was nothing common about the schooling they received. The teenagers, and a handful of adults, volunteering to help teach them and provide support, came from eight states and the Nation’s Capital. All are members of the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps, a Congressionally chartered youth development organization for males and females, age 10 to 17, teaching leadership, self-reliance and self-esteem, while keeping them in school and away from gangs, drugs and other negative influences, by offering a variety of fun, challenging, exciting and rewarding activities when school is not in session. The teens, called Cadets, share the common vision of either attending college, perhaps with one of the many scholarships offered by the program; applying for entrance into a military or merchant marine academy; enlisting in a military service, likely at an advanced pay grade; or simply having fun while being exposed to various occupational fields and positive role models. Just as the Cadets were not average teens, this POLA was not the normal POLA curriculum. Instead, it was the first of its kind, a blend of the traditional POLA and a course, known as “Cougar Quest,” taking the program to a more advanced level, challenging the Cadets, mentally, physically, and emotionally.” NSCC Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Tammy R. Rivera, of South Carolina and South Carolina Army National Guard Chief Warrant Officer 4 Rick Corley, who is also an NSCC adult volunteer, coordinated the program, with the assistance of six support and three additional instruction personnel. Corley called the course, “the most impacting and challenging course ever taken by Cadets.” Early in the week, it was evident that Cadets with diverse backgrounds blended together, formed bonds of friendship and quickly became an effective team, in order to meet the demanding challenges. Throughout the course, the Cadets practiced newly acquired leadership skills; enduring long days, short nights, soaking near-continuous rains, cold mornings, warm afternoons; living and eating in military facilities in a beautiful wooded area, isolated from the conveniences and distractions of city life. Classroom and practical sessions included leadership and personality styles; ethics; team building; memory association; “Initially, I was skeptical that this program was much different from other POLA programs, but within days, I was convinced that the techniques used clearly made a significant impact,” NSCC Lieutenant Joseph P Cirone, commanding officer of the NSCC unit based at the Washington Navy Yard in the Nation’s Capital, said. In describing the results of the course, Cadets spoke as if they found a pot of gold or had unlimited access to the gold deposits at Fort Knox. “When I began this course, it was hard for me to speak to more than a few people at a time, now that’s changed,” Cadet John Winston Spires, remarked. Spires used his talents and kept his fellow students motivated during even the toughest times. “He always saw the bright side of things and kept us laughing,” a fellow Cadet recalled. “It is an amazing leadership experience,” “It got rid of barriers that kept me from being a success. We worked as a team with people we didn’t even know. I improved my leadership and overall personality,” The program taught the Cadets not to let their personal limitations prevent them from doing everything they possibly can, according to Jones. During an extremely challenging portion of the course, Instructor Wheeler asked a group of Cadets if they were afraid of what was about to happen. He said the Cadets responded with, “All week they have been teaching us not to be weak or afraid; why would we fear now?” As the course was nearing its conclusion, Cadets were still having the “adventure of a lifetime” and asked if they could stay longer and continue learning, even after enduring clothes-soaking rains, mud, fatigue and being pushed to their limits. Cadet Cynthia Rivera exclaimed, “If I had the chance, I’d do it again.” On graduation day, parents traveled from near and far. “Different,” “You will always be regarded as mine. I’m your second mom,” Rivera told the graduating Cadets. She pledged to be available to them as they continue in life and to feel free to reach out for her, if they wanted to talk or needed help at anytime in the future. “Feeling the love in the room and seeing the excellent teamwork, conduct and leadership the Cadets displayed all week, today, I had tears in my eyes. It was hard to hold back my emotions and focus, after a special ceremony in which LTJG Rivera, some parents and I participated. I broke out in tears when one Cadet whispered a special thank you in my ear, while I had my eyes closed as part of the ceremony. I was blown away,” Cirone commented. The graduation concluded with recognition of Cadet Megan Gilligan, of Kentucky, as the most improved; Cadet Andre Perez of New Jersey, and Cadet Joy Caris of Michigan as the male and female most outstanding Cadets. In her closing remarks, Rivera encouraged Cadets to “keep the change” they made during the course. So far, they have. “I am already getting e-mails from parents and Cadets thanking us for the change,” Rivera reported two days after the graduation. The U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps is a Congressionally chartered youth development program, sponsored by the Navy League of the United States and supported by the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard. For over four decades, the program has taught males and females, age 10 to 17, and adult volunteers, age 18 and up, about leadership, honor, courage, commitment, respect and instilled self-confidence, self-reliance, patriotism, and an appreciation for the sea services, while keeping them away from gangs, drugs and other negative influences. For more information, visit www.seacadets.org # # MEDIA NOTE - High resolution images e are available from co@seacadetsdc.org. Website: www.secadetsdc.org End
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