A very outgoing and enthusiastic young man in grade 11, Bjorn Rekken, has been accepted to participate in the Oriole Youth Advantage Challenge 2013. He will spend four nights on the HMCS Oriole and experiencing life aboard a navy vessel. Not any navy vessel, but the oldest commissioned vessel in the Royal Canadian Navy, which is now used as a sail training vessel providing teamwork exercises and adventure training.
"The Oriole Youth Adventure Challenge is a 5-day leadership program aboard the HMCS Oriole, facilitated by the Canadian Student Leadership Association (CSLA) and the crew of the HMCS Oriole. Now in its 8th year, the Oriole Youth Adventure Challenge is an exciting opportunity for a team of high school students from across the country to work together with an experienced Naval crew to learn how to be strong, capable crew members aboard a tall ship," Kim Wallace, Program and Resource Coordinator of the Canadian Student Leadership Association, explained.
"Through a series of lectures and skill building sessions, participants will learn the skills necessary to be active crew members, while also learning how crews work together to accomplish their tasks and goals. The Oriole Challenge helps individual participants build confidence and leadership skills by encouraging them to take on new challenges and learn new skills with an open-mind and positive attitude. Past participants have described the Oriole Challenge as a 'life-changing' and 'empowering' experience."
Rekken first found out about the program through Student Leadership Team (SLT) supervisor, Amy Rutten. The program was first presented to Rutten through the Canadian Student Leadership Conference held last fall and she thought it was an interesting opportunity.
Application forms were presented to all SLT members in grades 11 and 12; but, Rekken was the only one to fill out the form, write a formal letter, and obtain a letter from the principal outlining his contributions to the school and community.
"I sent it off and got, luckily, picked," Rekken stated.
Despite repeating multiple times that luck played a large part in being chosen, Rutten was adamant that Rekken had earned it through his character.
The program is open to grade 11 and 12 students across Canada who consistently displays leadership.
Rekken is one of 15 students to be chosen to participate in the Youth Adventure Challenge.
"I just look at it from my view, that I wrote a handsome letter and they liked it," Rekken finally said after insistence that luck was not involved.
His formal letter regarding why he wanted to participate in this challenge included his experience as an SLT member as well as being involved with the RespectEd program or Pink Day. In addition to his leadership skills developed through these means he also wrote about his interest in the military, which he has had for a number of years.
Finally he included a small plea to those choosing applicants through writing, "I'm from Saskatchewan and it is going to be an experience and a half to be on the ocean."
Smiling Rekken adds jokingly, "My oceans are wheat fields." Though this final line wasn't in his formal letter it is a truth of living in Saskatchewan.
"It's going to be very interesting I think," Rekken states in regards to the opportunity. "I've been deep sea fishing once in Mexico and now I'm going on a giant navy ship. I'll be on the water for four days straight; sleeping, eating, and staying on an old ship."
"I would like to give a great big thanks to Maurice for making this trip possible."
Rekken smiles slyly when he said this because he enjoys ribbing people on occasion and in this instance is speaking of his principal, Maurice Saltel, whom he greatly respects. Saltel kindly wrote a letter of recommendation for Rekken to include with his application outlining Rekken's character.
"And a big thanks to Miss Rutten and Mr Zacharias for helping me put together my formal letter," Rekken adds.
As SLT supervisor Rutten has spent much time with the team and explained that Rekken is very deserving of this great opportunity.
"Bjorn's an active member in the SLT," Rutten stated. "He's the kind of guy that if you're stuck and need some help will follow through for you. He has a hard time saying no if you need help."
When Rekken discovered he had been chosen for this opportunity he was extremely excited and his family was glad that he would have the chance to take part in a once in a life time opportunity.
