Whether or not he would be a follower of Christ was never a question for Simeon. But at Summit, he had the opportunity to clarify exactly what he believed about his faith and himself.
Before attending Summit, Simeon served as a leader in Trail Life USA, a Christian outdoor adventure organization. There, he mentored younger boys and developed leadership skills, including delegation and teamwork. In his senior year, Simeon successfully completed the program’s capstone task—the Freedom Project—where he applied his skills in communication and organization to lead fellow Trail Life USA members with confidence and purpose.
However, even though Simeon proved himself to be an effective leader, he realized he needed to deepen his understanding of the Christian faith.
“During my leadership experience at Trail Life USA, I learned that the more secure I am in my identity and in what I believe, the easier it will be to talk to the people who depend on me,” says Simeon.
Accordingly, Simeon applied for the Leader Scholarship and attended a Student Conference in Georgia.
Simeon shares that the most profound impact on his faith during the conference came from his small group. Surrounded by guys from different regions and a variety of denominational backgrounds, he found his assumptions about faith thoughtfully challenged—and his perspective deeply enriched.
Simeon describes his small group experiences saying, “Because I’m hearing other opinions from other people who have very different experiences than me, I’ve been encouraged to really consider what I believe.”
The healthy debate that stemmed from those differences caused Simeon to clarify his beliefs about Christianity and his identity in Christ.
“Before Summit, I would have said I was a Christian, but I didn’t have a lot more certainty beyond that. So Summit has been a great place to solidify what my specific beliefs are about Christianity and myself,” explains Simeon.
As an aspiring biology researcher, Simeon acknowledges that secularism permeates that field. Still, Simeon feels equipped to stand steadfast in his Christian faith despite these opposing views, due in part to his experiences at Summit.
Simeon is grateful for the donors who made his attendance at Summit possible, and shares, “My time at Summit has been really impactful for me, and I think it’s going to serve as a cornerstone of my belief system for the rest of my life.”