(Korin Freeman orginially wrote this article for the Luther Memorial News at Blacksburg.)
When I look back on the last five years, I look all the way back to my very first youth event: Lost & Found 2010. For those of you who do not know me that well, I’m Korin Freeman, a bubbly, excited youth event and faith-driven senior at Blacksburg High School. For years, my Junes and Januarys have been filled with countdowns and long-awaited reunions with my second family in the Virginia Synod, however, as of January 25, 2015, I said my final goodbyes to the events I have come to love as a youth.
Where I have gone in life would not have been possible without these events guiding me in the right direction and without all of you and your generous donations, I would not have these events as a solid base of my faith. I wish each one of you could join the youth when they venture to either the 7th Day, Lost & Found, Kairos or Winter Celebration to see God at work in the young people of the Synod. When each youth begins their first event, they most likely don’t want to be there, I sure didn’t, but by the end of the weekend or week, they don’t want to leave. 
As I was standing and swaying with my friends at the final large group of the second weekend of Winter Celebration 2015, I looked around at every one, but specifically the seniors. There were about 10 different emotions spread throughout my classmates, but I only want to tell you about two of them. Some people were in tears, holding onto their close friends, not wanting this experience to end, but others, like me, weren’t crying. On the ride home, I realized why.
While I was extremely sad that my time as a youth in the Virginia Synod was ending, I realized that these events were also the reason I wasn’t crying. These events have prepared me to go out into the world, to be an Ambassador for Christ, to take on the challenges I will face. Five years ago, I would have been terrified to go out into the world, finish my senior year, graduate from high school and begin college, but now, I’m ready, all thanks to the confidence I have gained from these events.
I cannot thank each one of you enough for supporting me throughout my high school years. It has done wonders for my faith growth and has made me who I am today and that is someone I am extremely proud of. I encourage you to continue to support the youth of our church and encourage them to attend the events. I promise it will pay off in the long run.
