Summit.
For some, this is one of the highlights of
their year. The experiences and friendships are like no other.
These competitions were defining moments of my
high school years. They helped shape me into the person I am today.
Who might that be?
My name is Elisabeth Phillips, but most everyone calls me Lissa. I participated in Awana for numerous years – almost longer than I can remember, if I’m being entirely honest. The majority of this time took place in New York state, west of Rochester. Junior year I was uprooted and moved to Kansas City for a year, and even though the following year found me living in Pennsylvania I kept those friends and still consider them dear ones.
Here’s the Cliffnotes of the basics of who I am. I am a lifelong pastor’s kid, have only one younger sibling (my little sister who is quite the character, and who may make some cameos on this blog), and I absolutely adore my dogs (golden retriever Molly who is a 60 pound cloud of anxiety and black Labrador Ruby who just turned 1 and is the epitome of the bratty younger sibling to Molly). I am currently in my junior year of college at Lancaster Bible College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania where I am studying Communication, with a focus in writing (no pressure here).
Now, the real question: why does this matter? Why should you care who I am, and why am I writing here in the first place?
The simple answer is that I am the Summit
Social Media Intern for this 2019 competition, so you’re going to be seeing and
hearing a lot of me in the months leading up to the competition, and even more
once we’re there. I thought it would be best to explain who I am and why I’m
here rather that poofing out of thin air and expecting you to take me
seriously.
You will mainly see me here on this blog and on the Summit Instagram page, and expect interactive content. The first interaction I need from you is input on the Summit t-shirt design for this year. Rather than the leadership team picking out a design themselves, they want your thoughts and designs for this year’s shirt! (click here for the t-shirt design guidelines)
The first interaction I need from you is input on the Summit t-shirt design for this year
Submit your entry, and any questions, to finearts@summit-journey.org and have an impact on a shirt that will be in your daily wardrobe for years. (Trust me on that one. I’m a junior in college and still wearing my Summit shirts regularly. They can be quite the conversation starter.)
New Blog Feature
I am also going to be starting a new feature of this blog modeled on “Ask the Editor” articles. If you don’t know what that is, I automatically feel old, but it’s pretty much exactly like comments on a YouTube video, Facebook post, or the Q&A feature of Instagram stories (which I will also be doing, but more on that later). “Ask the Editor” was the predecessor to all of these way before the Internet was a thing, and even after as well. The audience can write in to the editor and ask questions, tell stories, give feedback; you get the idea. I didn’t want to limit those times to the 24 hour period that the Instagram Q&As are active and I want to be able to answer questions in detail if need be, something that fits this blog perfectly. With this format you can send me any questions you have about me, Summit, Awana, what Bible College is like post-Awana, etc. Get creative! These don’t have to be questions either. If you want to share a testimony of how Summit impacted you spiritually, how you grew in maturity, or some shenanigans you and your friends got into, I’m all ears. I also have dozens of these stories of my own to contribute, so don’t feel embarrassed or singled-out. I am also not limiting these questions to you teens participating. Do the parents out there have questions about Summit from their students perspective? Go for it! Do any leaders want feedback, questions answered, or to share a story about when a student carved his name into a rock at a national park? (carving your name in a rock at a national park is not encouraged) This is your platform as well, and I am merely the moderator of it. The email you can send all of these stories and questions to is summitjourneyalumni@gmail.com.
Here’s my first topic for you to respond to.
What is your favorite story of the beginning of practices for Summit?
I’ll give you a hint about mine: Fundraiser Valentines Dinner. These can be serious, silly, or anything in between. I’m looking forward to reading all of your stories.
So, to conclude, remember to submit your
designs and ideas for the 2019 Summit t-shirt and send me a story about your
favorite Summit practice story. I’m praying for all of you.
-Lissa
