My Adventure at ACTIVATE

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My adventure at ACTIVATE was not at all planned. It was almost by accident that I went there. When I received the email that described ACTIVATE I was already on another great adventure – I was doing an exchange in Quebec for three months, far from my family and friends. The email was sent to me by a lady that I met during another leadership conference in British Columbia. I was interested, so the next time that I spoke to my parents, I asked them if I could fill-in the form. They told me to try, but I filled it in without too much hope because ACTIVATE was for people aged 16 to 22 and I had just turned 16.
When I received the email telling me that I had been accepted it was a great shock. It was in this way that my adventure began. It was a little difficult to do it all – the permission forms and everything – because my parents were at the other end of the country and had to also sign because I was a minor.
May 5 to 10 was a real experience. I was the baby of the conference but it never mattered. I was part of the group and that was all, there was no different treatment because I was younger than they were. ACTIVATE really inspired me to try everything that is possible. Even if you don’t have a big project, you can still change the world with little projects. I was not able to choose only one project but the tools that ACTIVATE gave me help me every day to organize little events and to have an impact how and where I can.
The big project that I proposed at the conference was to be a coach for the 8th grade rugby team in my school this year. So I will do it, but while I wait for the rugby season to start, I play at the club with the boys to see what their level of interest is. Also, I participate everywhere in my school. I think that ACTIVATE left a lot of hope in my heart for our world because I had the opportunity to meet other youth like me who had the enthusiasm and energy to do everything that they can for the world.
ACTIVATE showed me that there is a life after school so it’s okay if I miss a little school to participate in conferences and activities that interest me and I can catch up easily if I work hard.

Emily Rowell
Volunteer Team Leader