Talk to Bro. Wray
Urban Studies Zion's Camp 2008
Mission of the Urban Studies Program
Our key mission is to positively affect the lives of the at-risk youth which we serve. All events, activities, instructions, interactions, games and meals should be facilitated with this mission in mind.
Our major thrust is to provide an experience for these young people that will build their self-esteem and give them confidence to face life in a difficult world. They need every tool, every advantage, every foothold we can offer them. For one brief moment there will be an open window where we might impact their lives. All this should be done in an atmosphere of fun and acceptance with an element of tough love.
Some areas of possible concentration to help them "gear up" for life are expressed well in a pamphlet entitled "Feeling Better: Nurturing Self-Esteem", by Hazelden. By familiarizing ourselves with the following, perhaps we can set some goals to help our young friends grow towards fulfilling their potential.
SELF-ACCEPTANCE: The goal of self-acceptance it to feel good about ourselves. If we have a high level of self-worth, we most likely feel a sense of importance to ourselves. We most likely see ourselves as attractive people with good qualities who have a lot to offer. This inner confidence can spill over into all areas of our lives as we seek happiness and challenge on our jobs, in our relationships, and in our personal lives.
SELF-WORTH: The goal of self-worth is to feel like we're valuable, important people. If we have a high level of self-worth, we most likely feel a sense of importance to ourselves and of value to others. Our inner feelings of personal worth can help us believe we have a lot to offer. Because of this, success and happiness are usually well within our reach.
SELF-FEELING: The Goal of self-feeling is to accept and express our feelings. If we have high levels of self-feeling, we're probably accepting of our feelings and able to express them when appropriate. We may be able to accept our own positive and negative emotions as well as the emotions of others. As a result, our interactions with others are probably growing and maturing.
SELF-FOCUS: The goal of self-focus is to be the master of our lives. If we have high levels of self-focus, we are most likely able to stand up for ourselves and how we feel.
