One of our Marietta High School students, Sophomore Jeremiah Loughry, attended the IBELIEVE Leadership camp at the University of Mount Union in July.
The IBELIEVE Foundation was created in 2011 to provide equitable and inclusive access for youth in the Appalachian region to continue to develop their skills, behaviors and attitudes necessary for their success throughout their lives. They provide community projects, leadership summits, digital leadership academies and youth leadership workshops.
Since their inception the foundation has been able to provide services to 8600 high school students from the Appalachian regions of Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Tennessee.
For Jeremiah the leadership camp was a refreshing experience where he was able to relax and be himself with a group of like-minded peers. “We really learned to just be who we are. For most of us, we knew no one else so we could be ourselves and not worry about being judged.”
The camp consisted of small group work where the students worked together in order to overcome challenges or obstacles together. This type of activity places an emphasis on teamwork, communication and helps develop leadership skills in the groups of students.
For Jeremiah, it was an experience that he will take with him for the rest of his life. “We accomplished so much together because we supported each other and worked together. We learned how to be inclusive, make sure everyone gets a chance to listen and participate. Even though I was hesitant about going initially, I’m so glad that I went. It was a life changing experience that taught me so much as a person!”
You can learn more about the IBELIEVE Foundation by visiting their website at www.theibelievefoundation.org