By Dominick D’Agostino | City of MacArthur, Cameron County

Badger Boys State will come to an end tomorrow.

It seems odd to think about it; even though we have only been here for a week, I feel as though I have spent a lot of my life in this place with these people, and I’m sure others feel the same.

This experience was what was promised, a change, one that will echo throughout our lives forever. And I won’t lie, at the beginning of the week, and even into Tuesday, I was unsure of the process.

I was reluctant to give up so much of my time and energy to the BBS program, and the days felt long to me. But as the week continued, as elections were decided, friendships were solidified and memories were made, I began to change my view.

You see, I had been looking at BBS the wrong way. I had been seeing it solely as an exercise in government procedures and political strategies, but it is so much more.

BBS is an opportunity to find yourself. To make new friends, and to learn about how to become an even better leader.

To me, the political portion of BBS is secondary to the lessons I learned about humanity and morality.

I came here not knowing what to expect, knowing only that I would be randomly assigned a roommate, city and county and that I would perhaps be forced to participate in competitive sports, something that I knew would taint the memories of my experience and my summer as a whole.

I was nervous too, and relying on all my past experiences with camps like this to lead me along my path, I previously participated in a two-week camp operating out of Madison. I found, however, that I had no need to be nervous or paranoid.

All the citizens and counselors of BBS are welcoming and kind, and I was accepted into the program the moment I arrived. This program has become like a home away from home for many people, and these relationships we have made will last hopefully for a lifetime.

We are all lucky to have attended BBS, a truly life changing experience.