19 January 2018
You are lighting the way for tomorrow’s generation
Posted in Camp life
Graduating from high school is a pivotal moment in the life of a young person. It’s a milestone that should be celebrated – but in a safe and positive environment, with no regrets.
It’s this very idea that saw 74-year old SU QLD supporter, Elaine Baston, put aside savings from her pension each month to help pay the way for one young person to attend SU-Schoolies on the Sunshine Coast.
When SU QLD’s Supporter Care team told her she had saved enough to send not one, but two school leavers, she was overjoyed.
“It was a lovely surprise to find out my gift would send two girls on the event,” Elaine recalls.
“I’ve been supporting SU-Schoolies for a couple of years now. I chose this event over other ministries because it’s far better for school graduates to enjoy a safe celebration instead of going to the Gold Coast.
“I think it’s important for young people to make smart choices as they leave school, to be true to themselves and not be swayed by bad influences.”
Alexa Pike, a 17-year-old from Brisbane, was one of the students sponsored by Elaine. When she found out she had been sponsored to go to SU-Schoolies, she was thrilled.
“A lot of my older friends said schoolies on the Sunshine Coast was amazing, so I thought to myself ‘why wouldn’t you want to do it?’,” Alexa says.
“Everything is planned out and structured but there’s still so much free time meaning that you get to make lots of friends.”
Given the opportunity to meet her sponsor, Alexa says she would: “…just run up to them and give them a big hug, and thank them for giving me the awesome opportunity to make friends and have such a memorable experience.”
Skyla Turnbull, who was able to travel down from Bundaberg with a group of her friends, enjoyed the week long celebrations thanks to Elaine’s support.
“I loved having the opportunity to celebrate without alcohol,” Skyla says.
“It’s just so unnecessary, and seeing the contrast between here [SU Schoolies] and some of the social media updates from my friends partying on the Gold Coast was really eye-opening for me.
“I just want to thank my sponsor from the bottom of my heart.”
Thanks to the generosity of friends like you and Elaine, school leavers like Skyla and Alexa have the opportunity to celebrate the end of their schooling lives in a safe, fun and life-affirming way.
“These students have come to the end of one journey and are starting another. It’s really important they start out on the right foot,” says Elaine.
You too can help give young people the time of their life on SU-Schoolies next year.
For more information head to su-schoolies.com
I Am Blessed to see and Hear from the young people that have been
helped and encouraged through Scripture Union Chaplaincy, also Schoolies week an amazing time that gives a safe and enjoyable time and place for those who may have otherwise not been able to celebrate their end of Schooling This also is a time of new friendships and for some young Adults to hear about & experience the Love of God through other young people of the same age.. Thank you Scripture Unionand those who Give to help our young.