Not Nerd Camp

By Michael Wilson

Butler Traditional High School, Louisville

 

When I first stepped onto the Bellarmine University campus for the five-week-long Governor’s Scholars Program, I really didn’t know what to expect.

I must admit, my first impression of the place was that it was a nerd camp, where all the focus would be on academics, we would get little free time, and I would have homework every night. After that first week, however, it was obvious that none of those things were true.

Life was pretty laid back. In our classes we didn’t do a lot of book or busy work, but instead took part in class discussions, learning more about our different majors.  There were lots of clubs and activities that had little or nothing to do with academia.  I had spare time every single day, when I could go play basketball, tennis, play cards, or basically do anything.  It was during some of that free time that I did something that would change my GSP experience forever.

I was playing basketball with some fellow scholars and a few Bellarmine students when I rolled my ankle and heard the ominous “pop” sound. It swelled immediately, and I had to go to the immediate care center. I got a few X-rays and the doctor told me that I had a severely sprained ankle and wouldn’t be able to walk on it for about two weeks.  I was crushed. I couldn’t imagine going two weeks without playing basketball or tennis, let alone walking.

It was a tough two weeks. Let’s just say that the Bellarmine campus, built on hills, is not crutch friendly. One good thing it did do, however, was force me to find other things to occupy my time. I hung out with the friends I had made here. Because of the injury, I became a lot closer with a lot more people. I built strong, lasting friendships with some scholars that I know will continue long after GSP is just a memory.

When I look back on the injury I think that it really wasn’t that bad. Yes I couldn’t walk for two weeks and yes I couldn’t play any sports, but I gained a lot of friends. I learned that GSP isn’t a nerd camp because it isn’t all about academics. I learned that GSP, like life, is about building relationships and coming out of your personal shell.

Of all the things I learned and experienced at GSP, I believe that lesson is the one that will stick with me.    

Independence, Individuality and Insight

By Lauren White

Washington County High School

 

            As the program that I have anticipated for a year draws to a close, I can’t help but feel a bit of sorrow.

From the moment in November that I started to work on my application into the Governor’s Scholars Program, hardly a day went by when I didn’t give it a thought. I knew how competitive the process was to get into this program, and I anxiously awaited my acceptance letter. On the fateful day in April when I realized that I was accepted, I felt like I was on top of the world. I knew that this summer was going to be the best of my life.

            Fast forward a few months and here I am at Bellarmine University in Louisville, closing in on the fifth and final week of the Governor’s Scholars Program. This summer has passed by quicker than anything else I have ever experienced in my life. I could never replace this summer, nor would I want to, with anything else in the world. The teachers, scholars, and experiences I have encountered will stay with me for the rest of my life.

            What I will take with me the most from this program is the independence I have gained and the individuality I have come to grasp. Living in a very sheltered, small-town, community, it is almost impossible to break the mold that has been set for you by your society. Being completely independent for the first time has given me a chance to see how I fit into the world and how other people view pressing issues in our society. Even though the program doesn’t set itself outside of the state, I feel like I have become more worldly than I ever could have expected.

            The Governor’s Scholars Program has been providing a summer home and intellectual haven for selected high school seniors for 25 years. This program truly is unique and unlike any other in its class. Not only does it enrich young adult lives and further their education, but it also gives them a jump-start for a promising future. Most of Kentucky’s colleges and universities recognize the value of the GSP and offer generous scholarships to its alumni.

            This program has given me the chance to live on my own, make independent decisions, become more responsible, and realize how completely grateful I am for the life and the opportunities that I have been given. I see how greatly I have been blessed with the chance to be a part of this program.

Some may scoff at the thought, wondering why any 17-year-old would want to spend their summer attending classes and living on a college campus away from family and friends. What they may not understand is the fact that while we are here, we aren’t just attending classes. We are forming relationships with a diverse group of people, learning about the world around us, and becoming stronger people.

This program has given me the gift of insight – insight into our world, our state, our community, and ultimately, a deeper insight into my own individuality. For that I will be eternally grateful.

Relationships Come Before Academics

By Chie Togami

Louisville duPont Manual High School

 

Waiting. It’s the best word to describe what I’ve been doing for the past four weeks. Not a bored, unengaged waiting, but an eager, always looking, always searching, waiting.

I’ve been waiting to be flooded with the GSP wisdom, to be struck with the lightening bolt of GSP enlightenment. But it hasn’t happened yet – or at least not in the way I expected. What I’ve come to realize is that this program is less like a tornado and more like the water that carved the Grand Canyon. The change it causes in people seems small and insignificant because it takes time to grasp its significance.

At first glance, the Governor Scholars Program seems like just any other academic camp. The application process is long and arduous requiring teacher recommendations, a student academic profile, and the submission of several essays.

 So I came to Bellarmine University in Louisville with a typical “workhorse” mentality. I had prepared myself for five weeks of intense classes that would help to build my knowledge base and give me a head start in preparation for college and career.

Competition has always been a huge motivation for me. Thus, I was initially very perplexed when I discovered that there is no quantitative measure of what we’ve done here. There are no tests, no grades. And though I’ve been competing my whole life, this place has been a sanctuary where people aren’t judged by their standardized test scores and number of leadership positions.

As our GSP executive director, Aristófanes Cedeño, has mentioned numerous times, this program is about building an intellectual community. Sure, our commitment to academic excellence is what has brought us together, but I would argue that academics are not the most important thing. This program is about building relationships. GSP is the first place I’ve ever been where friendship is promoted above all else. In regular classes during the school year, socializing is frowned upon because it “distracts” from individual success. Because of this, students’ worth as individuals is often tied directly to their academic accolades. Students cry when they lose their 4.0 because they know that as a result they will begin to be treated differently.

At GSP, we have come to understand the true essence of our state motto: United we stand, divided we fall. In this community setting we have learned that cooperation is as important as competition. We are purposely placed in situations that force us to step outside our comfort zone. I’ve been waiting, and without even knowing it I have been reshaped by the people I’ve met and the experiences we’ve shared. 

Much More Gained Than Lost

By Morgan Rose

Taylor County High School

 

            This summer, I’ve missed out on lazy days by the pool, late nights chatting with friends, and sleeping until lunchtime. I’ve sacrificed five weeks of free time to attend the Governor’s Scholars Program and reside on the campus of Bellarmine University in Louisville.

What may come as a surprise, however, is that with all that I’ve missed, I’ve gained so much more.

            The Governor’s Scholars Program allows some of Kentucky’s brightest upcoming seniors to attend a five-week session filled with opportunities to take risks, discuss important issues, and learn about themselves and the world around them.  In addition, almost every college in the state offers scholarships to GSP alumni, so the application process was difficult and competitive.  Upon receiving my acceptance letter, I began to plan for what I knew would be an unforgettable experience.

            Opening day in mid-June came with a series of emotions.  As the day that I’d been planning and anticipating for weeks came into view, I began to feel excited, curious, and unsure simultaneously.  The butterflies in my stomach were definitely alive and well as I entered an unfamiliar campus filled with strange faces. A pang of anxiety and sadness rushed in as I, along with 360 of my fellow scholars, bid goodbye to family members. We were now alone, and it was up to us to break the ice and become acquainted with not only our surroundings, but also the strangers with whom we would share the next five weeks. 

            Week One was a string of new beginnings: new friendships, new living arrangements, and new learning experiences.  Dorm life, complete with shared bathrooms and limited drawer space, presented an unknown frontier of sorts and a few unforeseen difficulties.   Making friends, on the other hand, wasn’t difficult at all.  With scholars coming from all parts of the state, personalities, backgrounds, and opinions of all types resided on campus. But the scholar population seemed to mesh and fit together perfectly within only a few days.  By Friday of the first week, I had grown accustomed to my summer life and developed relationships that I knew would stretch far beyond this five-week program.

            My classes provided a plethora of learning experiences and opportunities to take risks and try new things.  My Focus Area, my “major” for the program, was Journalism and Mass Media.  Since writing has been a passion of mine for quite sometime, this class and I were a perfect fit.  It allowed me to have an in-depth look at the aspects and influence of journalism.  Through this class, I was able to visit the Courier Journal, tour the TV station of Wave3, and participate in a GSP news bureau.  I developed my own stories, all the while being mentored by two notably successful journalists. 

            In my other classes, I spent time discussing and debating issues that impact our world.  I was exposed to new opinions, concerns, and information on topics ranging all the way from dating relationships to pending war.  These classes not only allowed me to have a voice and share my thoughts, but also hear that of others.  I was able to learn more about what I believe and why I believe it, which will be an invaluable tool in my future. 

            For me, the program has truly been a huge compilation of great memories, and as the five weeks draw to a close, I am confident that this summer will be difficult to top. While most 17-year-olds spent their summers planning sleepovers and working on their tans, I was given the honor of learning more about myself and having an impact on my future.

As it comes time for me to re-enter the real world, I won’t leave the experiences of GSP behind.  Instead, I’ll cherish all the things I’ve learned and all the friendships I’ve made.

And I’ll proudly don the title of Governor’s Scholar.

No Tests, No Grades, Just Growth

By Brianna Renn

Louisville Male High School

 

I received a letter last May that pulled two contrasting emotions from my body. As I listened to my father reading the letter, purposely skipping over the accepted or not accepted part, I was full of anxiety.  If accepted, five weeks of my summer would be completely ruined. If not accepted, I would lose the benefits of scholarships, along with spending time with friends who were accepted to the program.

Finally, my anticipation exploded. I snatched the letter from my father’s hands and I read, “Accepted.” The mixed emotions led me to jump with glee and pout with doubt on being a 2008 Governor’s Scholar.

At the beginning, I pictured the Governor’s Scholars Program as a summer school full of grades, work, and absolutely no fun. Imagining a program that would take five weeks of my precious summer away did not sound appealing to me. However, many of my friends said great things about the program and I did not hear one negative comment from any former Governor’s Scholar.

By mid-June, I was arriving at the Bellarmine University campus in Louisville for a five-week program that would help me grow as a student and a person. Now that I have experienced GSP, my feelings and emotions about the program have changed immensely. It was nothing that I had expected it to be, only 10 times better!

My Focus Area of study, Journalism and Mass Media, allowed me to travel to the Courier Journal and the Wave Three Television Station. This was a once in a lifetime experience because I got a behind-the-scenes look at two of the state’s biggest media outlets and met well-known journalists like John Belski, Dawne Gee, and Bill Luster.

In my General Studies class, the object was to define the word “creativity,” and agree upon a definition as an entire class. After trips to art museums and studios in downtown Louisville, and an immense amount of researching, interviewing and debating, the class produced an agreed upon definition.

One of the best parts of the program was meeting other scholars from across the state and forming an “intellectual community” on campus. Here I noticed that there was a mutual respect among the scholars, who were able to have passionate conversations about important topics without losing their cool. Moreover, scholars did not judge anyone based on their race, sex, or religion. It was a stereotype-free environment and fertile ground for creating relationships.

The odd thing is that we experienced such a tremendous amount of education and personal growth in a program that had no tests and no grades. Learning was fun.

As I look back to that day in May when I received my acceptance letter, I see myself as very naïve and ill-informed about the GSP. For most of the scholars in the program, this was the highlight of their lives, and now I realize why. The Governor’s Scholar’s Program is designed to create role models of academic excellence.

It sure did for me.

Thoroughly Enjoying Myself

By Kayla Powell

Home-schooled, Lexington

 

I still vividly remember the application process:  Two months of wracking my brain trying to remember everything I’ve done since second grade, updating my resume, writing essays, rewriting essays, asking for letters of recommendation, and yes, considerable stress.

I remember waiting for four long months to hear if I was accepted.  And oh do I remember the joy I felt on receiving that acceptance letter.  After a prayer of thanksgiving, I jumped up and called my mom, who ironically enough was having lunch with my academic mentor.  Letting the tears of joy fall, I probably shouted, “I got in!!  I got accepted into GSP!”  Then I quickly called my dad and talked so fast it’s a wonder he understood me, and then, as any normal teenager would do, I quickly employed the speed dial on my cell phone and called all 10 of my best friends. 

When I arrived at the Bellarmine University campus in Louisville on June 15 for the five-week-long Governor’s Scholars Program, I hardly knew what to expect.  There were so many questions running through my mind, so many emotions running through me.  I was excited, eager to meet new people.  I was confused; everything felt chaotic and rushed; it was all happening so fast.  I was sad; I would definitely miss my family and friends.

I knew that this would be a good experience for me.  It’s a once-in- a- lifetime experience. I’ve never been afraid to meet new people, and I was excited that I got journalism (my first pick) for my Focus Area.  I knew I’d be experiencing new things, and making decisions that I’d never had the opportunity to make before.  I knew I’d be taking risks, and despite mixed emotions, I was ready to begin.

One of the new experiences for me was something I’d heard plenty about, but never thought I’d want to do.  My younger sister, Lorie, is 16 years old, and has known for several years that she wants to be a surgeon. In pursuing this goal, she has attended a weeklong pre-med camp for two summers in a row.  As part of this camp, she had the incredible opportunity of getting hands-on in a cadaver lab.  I had listened to her gush about this experience — genuinely happy for her, but definitely grossed out. Touching a dead body was definitely not something I ever intended to do. 

My Focus Area at GSP was Journalism and Mass Media.  As part of our work, we reported and wrote a feature story on a particular facet of the Governor’s Scholars Program.  My story was on first-time experiences, and part of my assignment was to report on the Focus Area, Biological and Environmental Issues, which included a visit to the cadaver lab.

I was surprisingly open to the idea of visiting a cadaver lab when my professor told me that I had this opportunity.  While I was definitely unsure of myself, not doing it was never an option in my mind; it would be great “color” for my story, and I wasn’t going to let this opportunity pass me by.  So I determined to eat enough — but not too much — before I went to report, and focused on preparing good interview questions.  I knew Lorie had been fine with the bodies, but she wants to be a surgeon, and I’m just a communications major.  I love people, and I want to see them whole and well and happy.       

I arrived early at the classroom where the biology students were meeting for a class period with Dr. David Porta, the professor who would be showing us the lab.  However, half the class was already there, eager for the class to begin.  Their enthusiasm and energy was soaring unleashed throughout the room.  There was chatter, laughter, and eager anticipation.  It was hard not to catch their energy, and soon I was looking forward to it, too.  Just not as much as they were.    

The moment I entered the cadaver lab, I became just as excited as the rest of the scholars.  I found myself quickly putting on rubber gloves and following a group of students over to one of the 10 bodies, and the next thing I know, I’m holding a liver!  Over the next few minutes, I had held several human organs, and I had held a human brain!  And the strangest part was that I was thoroughly enjoying myself.

Even now, I can’t help but smile when I think about how much I enjoyed doing something that I thought I’d never want to do. And that, I believe, is what the GSP experience is all about.     

A Humbling Experience

By Rachael Padgett

Southwestern High School, Pulaski County

 

How many places can you take 300-plus teenagers, put them in a college setting, tell them they are not allowed to use their cell phones or iPods outside of their rooms, and not get laughed at?

 Furthermore, you insist that these students are not allowed to have cars, must stay within an in-campus perimeter and observe an early curfew. Oh, and for the next five weeks, they are not allowed to have visitors, with one exception: Parents Day.

Now imagine that with all those restrictions, hundreds of teenagers want to be there, and are willing to go through a lengthy and competitive application process to do so.

Believe it or not, it happens every year in Kentucky. It’s called the Governor’s Scholars Program, a five-week residential study course that prepares some of the best high school students in the state for college careers and leadership positions. Add in the fact completion of the program almost guarantees a scholarship to most colleges in Kentucky, and it’s no surprise that over 1,000 students attend the GSP every year at three host campuses.

I happen to be one of them, spending most of my summer living in a dorm on the Bellarmine University campus in Louisville.

Although I may be the “smart kid that can do anything” at home, I feel pretty dull here. From a self-proclaimed redneck who intelligently debates politics, to a tri-lingual person who can “pop lock and drop it” with the best, the scholars here are diverse and unique. But most scholars have one thing in common at this “nerd camp”: We feel inferior to everyone else.

“It seems like everyone is specialized in something,” said Corey Phelps, a scholar from Burnside.

GSP was started to encourage Kentucky’s “best and brightest” to go to college and start careers in Kentucky. But secretly, I believe this organization was made to humble everyone. I thought my 33 ACT score was pretty good until I met several people with 35s. And those people with 35s feel like it’s just a test score and other people have done more interesting things. And those other people wish that they could do something someone else can do….

By the third week of the program, my notion of stereotypes was gone. I don’t think one person turned out to be what I expected them to be. Showcase, the weekly talent show, was where I got most of my surprises. One guy who had seemed especially shy belted out an original song. Another one, who had been especially passionate during the Community-wide Capture the Flag, turned out to be equally passionate while playing piano. It made my jaw drop.

Speaking of piano, I’m pretty sure 80 percent of the scholars on this campus play piano. One guy, who seems to be extremely obnoxious and doesn’t have the discipline to sit quietly for five minutes, has the discipline to play a medley of popular piano songs. Most piano players are better than I am, and I took lessons for five years. However, most players who performed at Showcase thought that they weren’t that good and that everyone else was better at it than they were.

And that seems to be the theme at the Governor’s Scholars Program. As we learn and grow, we find that others are learning and growing too, maybe even more than we are, so that by the end of the summer, we’ll all be significantly more intelligent, yet feel that much stupider.

I’ve learned many things during my time at GSP.

Frightening At First, Worth It In The End

By Megan Martin

Woodford County High School

 

            Walking into a group of 360 high school seniors who are all complete strangers to you can be pretty intimidating. Especially when you will be spending the next five weeks living with them.  All you can think about are first impressions. “Should I go and introduce myself? I hope they like me. Did I put enough deodorant on?”

            This was my experience on June 15 as I walked into the Kentucky Governor’s Scholars Program on the Bellarmine University campus in Louisville. The GSP is a five-week summer program where selected students from around the state gather on a college campus to further their learning. However, my experience featured so much more than just education. I learned more outside of the classroom than I could have ever learned inside.

            The program’s mission is to develop the future economic, educational and civic leaders of Kentucky. To achieve this mission scholars attend classes, do community service, and form an “intellectual community” with faculty, staff and other scholars.

That word “community” is central to the GSP experience. Over the five-week period, these 360 strangers began to build relationships and then great friendships until the campus began to feel like a huge family with brothers and sisters sharing one of the best experiences of their lives.

            Being put into a situation where I didn’t know anyone’s name or face was one of the best things that ever happened to me, even though I didn’t realize it at the time. For the first couple of days, I was nervous and occasionally shy, but then I realized that everyone was in the same boat, and we all needed to make friends. So I was forced to step outside my comfort zone and approach people I had never seen before. At first, it wasn’t easy and the conversations were sometimes awkward, but after those first couple of days, approaching people and making new friends felt like second nature. As a result of being thrown together with strangers, and reaching out and meeting new people, I formed friendships that are sure to be lifelong.

            The GSP taught me so many things in only five weeks, but there are some lessons I learned that will stay with me forever. The experience taught me to step outside of my comfort zone, and take risks. It may seem frightening at first, but the outcome is always worth it.

GSP Proved Me Wrong

By Mac Kern

North Laurel High School, London

 

The weather was just beginning to warm up. It was midway through April, the week after Spring Break. My mother greeted me as I walked in the door. After I removed my shoes and placed my backpack on the floor, she handed me an opened envelope. I immediately knew that it had something to do with the Governor’s Scholars Program. I didn’t even bother looking inside. “Did I get in?” I asked.

            Two months later, I stepped into Frazier Hall at Bellarmine University in Louisville.  As I stood in a long line to get my GSP t-shirt and have my ID picture taken, I wondered how order could possibly be maintained in this place. As I looked around, I noticed that my preconceived idea of GSP was quite wrong. I didn’t see anyone standing in line with an ACT Strategies Study Guide. No one was peering at “War and Peace” through thick-rimmed glasses.  Everyone looked like…me.

To be honest, I applied for GSP because I wanted scholarships. After talking to some other scholars, I found out that many of them were there for the same reason. Many of the top universities in the state offer considerable scholarships to Governor’s Scholars.  I didn’t actually expect to enjoy the program. I didn’t think that I would find scholars who were interested in rock music or watching football games.

What actually happened at GSP was something totally unexpected. After a few weeks, I felt like I’d known some of the scholars for years. I met people who were so much like myself it was scary. I was constantly surrounded by people that I enjoyed being with. Every spare moment was shared with others. Countless hours were spent simply sitting in the dorm lobby and chatting. Although I often thought of home, I could not have been happier to be a Governor’s Scholar.

I found myself spending a great deal of time with several particular people, but I never quit introducing myself to others. Even during the last week of GSP, I made friends with many scholars.

 At the first community meeting, when GSP Executive Director Aris Cedeño said that all the scholars would form a tight-knit community, I laughed a little. “That’s just not my thing” another scholar told me later.

We were both wrong. As the final day drew nearer, everyone drew closer. Everywhere I went people greeted me by name. I even found that I was slightly sad when I thought about going back home. One night, while talking to my mom on the phone, I commented, “I wish all the scholars here were in my graduating class.”

GSP broke down more barriers than anything I’ve ever been in involved in. I became more willing than ever to listen to others’ opinions. Some of my closest friends at GSP had opinions that were drastically different from my own. I learned not to stereotype. I met people from many different backgrounds. The biggest thing I took from GSP is the friendships I formed with students from all over the state.

Five weeks may not seem like a long time, but when you spend every waking moment with a group of people for five weeks, you get to know them pretty well. I spent five weeks in the GSP community, with the people who would become some of my greatest friends. When I look back to the first community meeting, and reflect on who I was just five weeks earlier, I laugh a little.

 I didn’t think there was any way that such a close community could be formed in such a short time. GSP proved me wrong.

Embracing Life

By Britta Hayes

Home-schooled, Lexington

“I don’t think the accomplishments are what make stronger people. It is the process and journey to get there that does,” said Aris Cedeño, executive director of the Governor’s Scholars Program.

I certainly have been transformed since the beginning of GSP.  I can still remember questioning whether I would even be able to make it through the program alive.  I saw GSP only as something to “get through.” I never expected to enjoy, learn, and grow as much as I have during these past five weeks on the Bellarmine University campus in Louisville.

My curriculum consisted of three main classes. Jami Dick, a resident advisor, led my seminar.  This class pushed me to listen to other people’s opinions and to accept the fact that their ideas may be different from mine.  My General Studies class, taught by Scott Vander Ploeg, was based on medieval times.  The class was surprisingly interesting and gave us a chance to explore that subject in a variety of fun ways.  My focus area was Journalism and Mass Media, taught by Jeanie Adams-Smith, and there I learned why journalists love their work. They get to meet a lot of interesting people and be in the middle of developing news. My major piece in the class was a profile on Aris Cedeño.  This gave me the opportunity to get to know Aris and the other people who run the program on a more personal level.

In my spare time, I danced.  I’m a ballroom and Latin dance instructor back home and continued to be while I was here.  Meg Caudill, the director of community events at Bellarmine, sponsored a Ballroom and Swing Dancing Club and was willing to let me teach the classes.  I was able to share my love of dancing with other scholars, and it was a great way to meet new people.

When I was not teaching, I attended the morning salsa classes that Terence Gaskins taught.  Each Friday at an event called Showcase, scholars were given an opportunity to perform their talents onstage. One Friday, I was privileged to be able to dance a salsa with Gaskins.  The scholars were shocked to see that our surprise guest was Aris Cedeño, the “scary” director of GSP, who is also a great salsa dancer.

During this short amount of time, I have formed lifelong relationships.  I feel like I have known these people my whole life.  It is hard to think that we are soon going to disperse back into reality.  I will miss the comfort, the safety, and the sense of belonging that I feel here.  This experience has opened my eyes on life and has shown me that I’m going to be okay, I can succeed, and I will be happy.

GSP has taught me to embrace life and to experience all that I can.  When I think about the times I’ve spent here, I can’t help but smile.  I think that is the greatest gift GSP has given to me.

4 Mattresses, 14 Pushups... Countless Relationships

By Tanner Greenwell

Bullitt Central High School

 

            I can’t describe the feeling that overcame me when I first became aware that I had been selected as a Governor’s Scholar.  I was unbelievably happy at first, but then I realized that since I was the only scholar chosen from my school, my best friend would not be going. 

            I didn’t know how to feel, but his optimistic attitude made it so much easier.  He was just excited for me that I was chosen.  He would always tell me that he was happy for me and that I would have the time of my life.  I would argue and tell him how I would be dying to come home the whole time.

What I didn’t realize before I began my five-week residency on the Bellarmine University campus was how quickly and strongly the bonds of friendship could form in the Governor’s Scholars Program. And it is no accident that it happens.

            The GSP is not solely an academic experience. It is the experience of building a community with the people that you meet there. It is the experience of forming relationships that can last a lifetime. I met people all of the time while I was there, but it took me a while to find my niche. A few of the guys on my hall and I became inseparable.  We would hang out all of the time.  We had a lot to talk about since we were all from different parts of the state; we would constantly compare each other’s hometowns. 

            During the last week of GSP, we decided that we didn’t want our days to end at the 11 p.m. curfew, when all students had to go to their rooms.  So one day we moved four mattresses into a two-person dorm room.  When our resident advisor found out, he wasn’t going to let us sleep five people in one room.  So eventually we cut a deal with him: If I could beat him in a handstand pushup contest, he would let us all stay in one room. 

            We would have these little physical strength contests in our hall every night and the winner would always be me or him. So he made me go first and I did 14; he barely got eight.  After that, we all crashed in the same room every night.  

            I really believe that staying in one room was a major benefit to our GSP experience.  Aris Cedeño, executive director of the GSP, once said that the most important thing that we do here is build relationships.  By the end of our five weeks at Bellarmine, we had learned almost everything about each other.  We behaved as though we had been friends our whole lives. 

            The most important thing that I took away from my experience at GSP is the friends I made.  I don’t mean friends like the people that I passed on the sidewalk and said hello to; I mean the people that I went to every activity with, the people that I ate every meal with, the people that stuffed four mattresses into a two-person dorm room so that we could stay up all night and hang out.               

            I walked away from the program with more than I ever expected I would.  I had figured that it would be like five weeks of academic prison, but I was completely wrong. Now I am glad to have been selected for the GSP, because it allowed me to build some of the most important relationships of my life.

When Words Don't Do Justice

By Molly Dean

Ballard High School, Louisville

 

There is so much to be said: so many relationships, feelings and opportunities that have been offered in this environment.

It seems to be much more of a utopian society than the real world which we have temporarily tried to block out. It's strange that I was intimidated by the idea of simply describing what this experience has been like for me.  Not in a bad way, simply a "where do I start?" way. 

I was one of about 360 students living on Bellarmine University’s campus in Louisville while participating in the Kentucky Governor’s Scholars Program. In all, more than 1,000 scholars from across the state flocked to three college campuses this summer, embarking on a journey unlike any other.  The five-week program is dedicated to enriching top high school students’ academic, civic, economic, and social knowledge.

The GSP environment is so hospitable to growth.  Its uniqueness lies in the way it differs from the classroom settings in which we have all grown up.  No grades, no external motivation, simply reliance on your own curiosity and ambition.  You learn because you are hungry to know more.  You wrestle with what is difficult because you like the challenge.  And you are better for it. 

My journalism studies here have been eye opening.  The media is relevant and unavoidable, holding so much potential. I am taking home a greater understanding of how I am affected by the merging of communications technology, and an awareness of my news sources and how I stay informed on a daily basis.  It has sparked a curiosity.  But we are all searching for the truth in our own ways, and it boils down to the source. 

As far as the GSP is concerned, I am finding that generally, it is whatever the scholar is willing to put into it, as are many things in life.  A good attitude and a thirst for knowledge can take you places you never imagined.  Students are so receptive to an instructor’s passion for what they do that the teacher typically makes the class.  The entire GSP faculty really is a powerhouse of academia.  I am surrounded by so many role models, it makes my head spin in the best way!   

I'm not sure I can justify the program with my words, but I can say with certainty that this has been a life-changing experience. I cannot pinpoint how I am different, but it has been a big transition.  And this is such a vital point in our lives, "on the verge of adulthood.”  We hear it every day; we feel the pressure to make important decisions, except it is usually just talk, babbling.  But this experience has had an impact in so many ways. 

For these few short weeks, the Governor’s Scholars Program brought to a halt the reality and imminence of our futures, if only to show us how much potential we all hold. 

The "Community"...It Will Grow On You

By Claire Cunningham

Notre Dame Academy, Park Hills

           

            During the first few days of the Kentucky Governor’s Scholar Program I would often entertain myself by interchanging the words community and cult.

Initially, I was intimidated by the administration’s forceful speeches on their utopian society. The mere thought of being called out during the weekly community meeting or, God forbid, being late, gave me nightmares.

I was not a happy scholar.

            To be frank, I had no genuine desire to participate in a five-week program focused on education, a program that would tear me away from my friends, my family, and my summer fun. In my mind GSP was a summer camp for nerds; kids who looked forward to exams, thrived on personal response essay tests, and had no personal social agenda for the summer.  I had built up in my own mind this sort of scholastic-based prison.

            In mid-June, when I arrived on the Bellarmine University campus in Louisville,  the atmosphere fell nothing short of my low expectations. The first day was chock full of painfully awkward introductions, forced smiles, and my own angry glances at my parents for forcing me to participate in this slave camp. The one glimmer of hope that I had was that my roommate didn’t seem like a reject and some of the girls on my floor had decent friend potential. But other than that, the situation looked bleak.

            Ironically, as the first week opened and I became familiar with my schedule, I only became more confused. The bizarre classes and early rising often caught me off guard and I felt like a little kid lost in a big and daunting grocery store. I found solace in my Focus Area of study.

            I have always enjoyed writing and my Focus Area, Journalism and Mass Media, allowed me to express my creativity. This class also gave me my first, honest to God, GSP friend, Casey Breese, a senior at Heath High School in Paducah. Finally, I had found someone who could keep up with my sassy and sarcastic remarks, liked the same music, and could make me laugh. It was refreshing to be around another person like myself. I hope that I was as comforting to him as he was to me.

            With one new friend under my belt and my confidence building, I began to reach out to girls on my floor. I came to find that my roommate was quite charming, and I began to enjoy our awkward run-ins as they bloomed into enjoyable conversations filled with shallow prattle, gossip, and even politics. Kelsey Day, my roommate from Harlan County, slowly but surely came out of her shell and became my ally. She was my friend to sit next to during the awful meetings, my friend to find at lunch, and my friend to pour my heart out to every night about friends, classes and boys.

            These new friends had more of an impact on my attitude than I was ever aware. Because I had these faces to look for at the next “mandatory fun” activity, friends to walk with to miscellaneous activities and just had people with whom I could connect and talk, my outlook on GSP soared.

            I had never realized up until this point how much I needed to be around people to feel whole. I had always thought myself to be an independent and free-thinking girl who wasn’t afraid to go anywhere alone. GSP humbled my inflated ego and taught me to appreciate the people that were kind-hearted enough to put up with me.

Yet that is what GSP is all about. This “intellectual program” was designed to draw in a diverse group of students from all over the state and allow them to forge friendships that can last a lifetime. I have never met teenagers quite like my fellow scholars. Not only were these kids fun and exciting, they were intelligent. They could hold their own in debates over politics, religion and society. I believe that this is what makes the program unique. Simply put, it is not a normal adolescent environment.

Now these abnormal surroundings have grown on me. Grown on me to the point that when I am thrust back into the real world I will most likely feel lost, similar to how I felt during the first few days of GSP. So if this cult or community is accepting scholars, let the hazing begin. 

Defining "It"

I arrived at the Governor’s Scholars Program on June 15 very much alone. Only three kids from my school were on my campus, and I knew only one other person of the 360 scholars on the Bellarmine University campus. Bellarmine was a large pond, and I was a tiny minnow. I was scared, worried, and altogether distraught.

            Then it started.

            What is “it”? It was a spontaneous eruption of friends and fun. It was the exposing of my inner being.  It was a life-altering change in my personality, in my people skills, and in my relationships. I met new people and soon had a group of friends that I could call on for help or advice. I attended classes and learned a variety of new things about journalism in my Mass Media class.

            It allowed me to meet some amazing individuals during my time at GSP. I joined a group of friends and soon we were spending all of our spare time hanging out and meeting other people. We laughed, we cried, we even spent long nights talking on the phone. The friends I met at GSP will truly be my friends for a lifetime.

            But the greatest instance of it for me was meeting Barbie.

I met Barbie at the Mattingly Center for Adults with Disabilities. Barbie needed help doing many everyday activities. She was restricted to a wheelchair, and she had to have someone push her in order to get around.

My General Studies class at GSP did biographies on the patients at the Mattingly Center, and my group was assigned to Barbie. Over three days we got to know Barbie very well, learning about her likes and dislikes, about her friends, and about what she wants to do with her life. Hearing her talk about her desire to get married and have two kids was enough to bring us to tears because we knew that without some kind of miracle, she would never get that opportunity. Barbie was kind, mischievous, and funny all at the same time.

 After visiting with Barbie and telling her story, we were filled with a desire to go back. Personally, I know I will go back to the Mattingly Center. I will go so that it can keep working.

            All in all, it made GSP one of the greatest experiences of my life. Now that I have unlocked it within me, I believe I am ready for the rest of my educational career. I know I can be more outgoing, more personable and friendly. I hope to meet more people in my life like the friends I have made at GSP – and like Barbie. This experience has transformed my life and prepared me for the real world. I left GSP with a new outlook, ready to challenge myself in my daily life.

All I have to do is bring it.

G.S.P. Doesn't Disappoint (But Funding Reducations Do)

By Brian Campbell
Louisville Eastern High School

The night before I left home to attend the Governor’s Scholars Program at Bellarmine University, I remember sitting at a cookout with a group of family friends, and someone asked me if I was going to be homesick. Five weeks away from your parents and away from home is longer than you think it is.
My response was just to shrug my shoulders nonchalantly. Sure, I wasn’t thrilled to leave the place I’d called home for 17 years, but at the same time I was looking forward to the upcoming experience. Over the years GSP had earned a reputation for excellence and for its unique approach to training Kentucky’s future leaders. It didn’t disappoint.
The GSP is an exciting gathering that takes place every summer, and in 2008 it brought together over 1,000 diverse students from across the Commonwealth, dividing them among three host campuses, Bellarmine in Louisville, Centre College in Danville, and Morehead State University.
The program truly has been unlike anything that I’ve been able to experience. Within the first days of the program, I had met a large portion of the community of 360 scholars that called the Bellarmine campus home. Every scholar came on a level playing field, and even though we were similar in how we got here, every one was different in his or her own way.
Together we participated in a wide range of classes, seminars and extracurricular activities that challenged us in new ways. We worked on projects in our different Focus Areas of study. We discussed controversial topics in seminars, learning more about who we are and where we really stand. Each one had to go through the same process I did, but I felt at home getting to know this diverse group.
With 360 students on my campus, all the activities were enriched by the diversity. Everyone brought something different to the table.
That’s why it was sad to sit in small classrooms for seminars and see so many empty chairs belonging to so many missing students. It wasn’t because they’d missed class or overslept. Scholars were missing this year because funding for Governor’s Scholars Program was cut by state officials who are desperate to get the budget under control.
Sure, it would be nice to say that those of us who are here survived the budget cuts and got to experience the program, but one of the most vital things to the success of this program is the diversity of people in it. Every scholar here contributes to the whole experience. So the budget cuts didn’t just hurt the missing students; they hurt the rest of us too, because we couldn’t benefit from their unique ideas, culture and points of view.
Among the main aims of the GSP is keeping Kentucky’s brightest and gifted young people in the state. Colleges and Universities statewide offer very generous scholarships to students who became scholars and meet the academic requirements. The combination of the GSP and these scholarships is in hopes of securing a promising future for the state by keeping the best of Kentucky in Kentucky.
The budget cuts to the GSP have stripped away opportunities, not just cash flow. This year alone over 100 students that should’ve spent five weeks of their summer securing their future and our state’s never got the chance to. In a time of economic setbacks, the last thing that should be cut is something that could very well prevent the same setbacks from occurring in the future. The Governor’s Scholars Program should be last in line for the chopping block, both for the student’s sake, and for our state’s.

A Roommate Connection

By Macy Brown
Muhlenberg South High School

On June 15, I left the small town of Greenville to attend the five-week long Governor’s Scholars Program in Louisville. Thoughts were racing through my head on the two-hour drive to Bellarmine University, where I would soon find myself living in a dorm room with a complete stranger.
My greatest fear was that I would not like my roommate. What was there not to worry about? What if she made me clean my room? What if she didn’t want me to talk on the phone? What if she wanted to practice playing an instrument all night long?
We arrived on campus and began to carry my luggage up to the dorm. I saw the name Rachel Amburgey written by mine on the door. She had beaten me to the room. Her family was helping her unpack. There was a prom picture sitting on her desk, and I assumed the guy was her boyfriend. I realized she would want to talk on the phone too. I was most reassured when she unpacked a softball glove and not an instrument.
The very first night we realized just how much we had in common. We were both talking about the day we received our acceptance letters from the GSP and how we felt. Most people would say that they were overjoyed, it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. But not us. We both thought that it was great we got accepted but I’m not sure either of us really wanted to come. My thoughts on the situation were: Why would anyone want to leave their family and friends for five weeks? What if everyone there is smarter than me? Can I just say I got accepted, is that not good enough? Rachel’s thoughts turned out to be very similar.
The scholarship opportunities that would become available to us upon completion of the program were probably the most important factor in our decision to come. Now I feel that if I had not come, it would have been the biggest mistake of my life. My experience at Governor’s Scholars has been amazing. I have learned a lot academically and personally. I have gained a new confidence in my ability to be independent when I’m away from home and to handle strange situations in strange places. And I have made tons of new friends and memories.
It’s interesting that you can learn so much from a program that doesn’t grade your work. At the Governor’s Scholars program, community seems to be as important as academics. At the GSP, strangers become friends. That is definitely the story for Rachel and me.
At 11 o’clock every night we are told to be in our room, doors shut. However, that doesn’t mean it’s time to go to bed. My roommate and I have never gone to bed before midnight. We talk to each other, talk on the phone, tend to eavesdrop on each other’s conversations, and snack a lot.
This is the last week of GSP and I’m beginning to realize how hard it’s going to be for me to leave. Rachel is from Ashland. Ashland is almost 300 miles from Greenville; that makes seeing each other after the program difficult. However, we already have possible dates and places we could see each other again.
Rachel and I have become very close over the summer and although we are sad to leave we both know we will keep in touch, and it’s not like we won’t ever see each other again. There is a possibility that we may attend the same college. It would be amazing if my roommate for a summer could turn in to my roommate for a semester.

No Explaining Love for "Summer School"

By Casey Breese
Heath High School, Paducah

Who in their right mind would want to spend the majority of the summer before their senior year at a five-week “intellectual” program? Who in the world would leave their best friends to surround themselves with 360 unfamiliar faces? But honestly, who would sacrifice their right to sleep to attend 9 a.m. classes?
When my parents presented the idea of the Governor’s Scholars Program to me, all these questions, along with 99 others went spinning through my cerebellum at the speed of sound. It wasn’t until two weeks into the program that I stopped and thought, “This isn’t nerd camp, this is GSP.”
Thrown into a brand new environment that was extremely unfamiliar and incredibly awkward, I didn’t know what to expect of GSP. All the GSP alumni I had spoken with previous to arriving at the Bellarmine University campus had assured me it would be an once-in-a-lifetime experience, but I just wasn’t seeing it. With all the exceptionally long GSP meetings, a strange sense of misdirection everywhere I turned, and the lack of companionship, there was nowhere to go but up. But the “up” that I was looking for wasn’t far away, not far away at all.
In reality, the basis of what I was looking for, the catalyst that would heighten my “GSP experience,” was some sense of comfort. I wanted to fit in somewhere, have people to talk to, and not have awkward silences waiting for me around every corner. At first this seemed extremely difficult, but day-by-day the awkwardness was brushed off our shoulders, the discomfort thrown off our backs, and the tension left in the dust behind us. It wasn’t long into the program that my list of friends began to grow, and I began to grow too.
I danced onstage during the weekly Showcase theater. I learned to salsa on Arts Day. I, Casey Breese, sat through the entire Casablanca motion picture – and I liked it. This is what GSP does. It pulls you out of your comfort zone and throws you into the unknown. It may sounds harsh to outsiders, but this is the foundation of GSP. This is what makes it such an effective program. While I couldn’t help but point out every negative that I could find the first week, I began to realize that there are so few negatives up against so many positives.
One positive that comes with GSP is the requirement to be an independent thinker. I think that when we are at home, in our own little towns, we have the tendency to get too content with ourselves. We begin to become way too satisfied with our level of conformity. GSP breaks you out of this protective shell, throws you directly into the lion’s den of discomfort. Between three separate classes (focus area, general studies, and seminar), new ideas are tossed around with more speed than a big league fastball on steroids.
That’s the genius of this program. What better idea to expand intelligence, promote thinking, and create a new network of friends than to throw together 360 of the most well-rounded seniors in our state in an environment that puts more emphasis on creating a sense of community than generating a classroom setting.
I think that when I return home, I might receive some sort of ridicule for spending my entire summer at “school.” The ironic thing is that I can’t really blame people for those thoughts, because I would think the exact same thing. But at the same time, I will be able to do nothing but shake my head and laugh. When my parents brought up the idea of GSP a couple of years ago, I couldn’t fathom how awesome the experience could be.
As cliché as it sounds, all good things must come to an end. With the program coming to a close, I have a feeling is in the pit of my stomach that four weeks ago, I would have never expected to have. I’m going to miss this place. What was once so different has become the norm. But regardless of my wishes, this five-week “intellectual” program lasts only five weeks. There’s no doubt in my mind, though, that I can walk away with my head held high, because I know I am taking away friendships, ideas, and perspectives that will last a lifetime.

Journalism: Out of the Comfort Zone

By Susan Ahmadi
Rowan County Senior High School

Over the past s 17 years of my life I have loved the spotlight. Whether I was dancing in a recital, competing in gymnastics, performing on a stage or just talking to a group of people, I have always enjoyed being surrounded by others.
When I was accepted to the Governor’s Scholars Program, a summer residential program for outstanding high school seniors in Kentucky, I was overwhelmed and excited about all the people I would meet. Spending five weeks at the Bellarmine University campus far away from home with about 360 other students sounded superb.
I have been to academic programs in the past, so I was used to awkward introductions and the oddly entertaining situations of playing “the name game," untangling human knots, and sitting down to eat at a table full of strangers.
Thus, when I repeatedly heard that GSP encourage students to “step out of their comfort zone,” I didn’t think twice about it. The whole concept of a “comfort zone” was fictitious in my eyes.
However, when I discovered that my Focus Area of study was Journalism and Mass Media, I have to admit I was terrified. I like to stick with activities I have experience in and know I’m good or at least semi-decent at. This was definitely not the case with my soon-to-be Focus Area. I had as much experience with journalism as I did with palm reading. Here’s a hint: I had none.
During the application process for GSP, we were required to select three focus areas we would be interested in studying. I knew I wanted to choose International Relations because I’ve always been interested in that subject and currently serve as Secretary General for this year’s East Senior Kentucky United Nations Assembly. I’ve also been acting since I was four so I didn’t think twice about selecting Drama. Last, I almost chose Spanish Culture and Language because it’s a huge part of my life; my mother is from Colombia and I’m very familiar with the language and lifestyle.
But, I also have loved writing and never have had room in my schedule at school to take journalism classes. I had been advised by my parents to take classes I wasn’t accustomed to, so I decided to choose Journalism and Mass Media instead of Spanish.
Yet, for some reason, I was convinced that I wouldn’t end up in that class. I had no experience with journalism whatsoever. As much as I loved writing, the idea of the public reading my writing sent chills down my spine. In addition, my photography skills have always been lacking. My teacher, Jeanie Adams-Smith is a phenomenal photojournalist, so I prayed that she wouldn’t think I was a humiliation to the art of photography. And, of course, I carried the always-evident fear of failure.
Now, I understand why “stepping out of your comfort zone” is one of the main goals of this phenomenal program. Being a journalist for the past five weeks allowed me opportunities and experiences that will last a lifetime.
My main story for my class was to write a profile on a faculty member here, Terence Gaskins. Journalism allowed me to meet an extraordinary personality and new role model, which I wouldn’t have had the chance to do otherwise.
My eyes were also opened to how the journalistic world is changing rapidly because of technology advances in today’s society. Visiting the Courier Journal allowed me to experience this issue firsthand, and I’ll forever be motivated to support newspapers in an ever-changing technologically centered world.
Although I’m not going to pursue a career in journalism, it will definitely be an interest I’ll possess for the rest of my life. I’ll never forget the impact journalism made on me over these past five weeks. I discovered the beauty of journalism: the ability to meet someone or visit a place or issue and to share their stories with the general public, while at the same time expanding your own realization of who you are.
I’m genuinely glad that I stepped out of my comfort zone this summer. The Governor’s Scholars Program really does develop leaders of the future. As a leader, I feel I can better relate to the introvert who dreads being thrown into a cafeteria of strangers because I’ve been in the same uncomfortable boat.

Inside the class room...sort of...

These are a few shots from the many classes taking place on the GSP Bellarmine campus. As you will notice, most of them are slightly outside one's normal take on a "class room."

General Studies... exploring music...and making instruments of their own...

General Studies...improv...learning to become a character...

Focus Area...Journalism and The Mass Media... a visit to The Courier Journal

Seminar...team building...working together and creating community

Focus Area...Visual Arts...self portraits

Focus Area...Astronomy...staring at the sun...

General Studies...Physical wellness...yoga time!

Social Norm Violation.

Cynthia Ganote's psychology class did their first social experiment today. The entire class walked to Bardstown Road ( a famous "weird" section of Louisville) to violate the "norms" of society and watch people's reactions. This project goes back to the fundamental psychology question: nature vs. nurture. Are human behaviors embedded in DNA or are they learned from social contact? In this particular norm violation, several girls stopped random people on the street and asked them to do a screen test for a potential TV show. This chick was really funny to watch. We completely expected her to just look at us like we were freaks but instead she got really into it and started actually reading the lines. This was an awesome way to take what we've learned in GSP out into the "real world" and perform experiments.

Megan's First Post...EVER

Hi, I'm Megan and I'm completely new to this fanatical trend called blogging....I just thought I'd start with an intro about myself, and my first impression of GSP (I just saw my teacher start walking to my next class so I have to go soon...). I'm seventeen, into music and reading, and just looking for a good time this summer. I thought that would be a problem the first week, because I didn't seem to know anyone and no one seemed to care to get to know me. Somehow, over the course of a few short weekend days, I became closer to many more people, and now feel that I'll have no trouble having fun and finding friends. Gotta jet to class! Peace.
ps- I'll try to include pictures as part of my next post. I meant to but I just didn't have time!

pps- In case you're wondering, I don't have any pictures of myself from GSP yet, so I improvised and just took a picture of my id.......

Community

Hi. I'm Hannah. I was so excited to be accepted to Governor's Scholar Program 2008! I will be Senior at Bardstown Highschool this fall. I have three brothers, no sisters, some dogs, chickens, a cat, three sheep and we had a llama...but it died. Anyway, I won't go into a long description of my classes here at Bellarmine for GSP but I would like to talk about the thing that has made the biggest impression on me so far. If you attend GSP you'll probably roll your eyes as you read this since the word "community" seems like it has been the only thought or word coming out of the wonderful staff and RAs since we arrived here last week. The fact that 360 proactive, intellegent, kind young people, most hardly knowing any other scholars, can come together in the way that GSP requires, is incredible to me. Every person I've met since I've come here has been nothing but filled to the brim with kindness, intellegence, and a fierce determination to make friends and build strong relationships. The bonds that I've seen grow in just over a week are simply unbelievable. The people here are unique in that they not only want to join together to have fun, they also want to build relationships, learn, experience, and dive into this vast oppertunity that is GSP. They want to create a community. And that has made all the difference to me.

Saturday Fun

The Game of Life

Scholars tried to survive life by getting an education, jobs, buying a house and so forth...it was easier for some than others.

While some scholars were off running for president, others kept finding themselves behind bars :-(

Capture The Flag

For whatever reason, the red, purple, blue and silver teams all decided they were going to gang up on the yellow team in the second round of capture the flag. Truces and negotiations were taking place all over.

While the rest of campus may have been against them, the yellow team definitely came together as one by the end.

Rock Paper Scissors Championship!

RAs facilitated while roommates took each other on and then faced off within their halls to determine floor champions.