BRADY BISHMAN

| JAGS | MODEL UN | DOCUMENTARIES |

JAGS and My Experience

The Jackson Academy of Global Studies is an organization inside of Jackson High School with almost two hundred members across the four grades. The Academy is focused on a global education that shapes students ready to change the world. I joined JAGS as a quiet child unaware of how pivotal the experiences would be to my growth into a young man. By holding students to a standard of 4 key pillars of character and creating a feeling of family among its members, JAGS turned the quiet kid I once was into a confident leader of the Academy. I proudly serve along only 15 select members of student leaders whose job it is to improve the organization in every way they can. At the beginning of joining JAGS, I would never have foreseen myself taking such a leadership role, but with the encouragement of both my classmates and faculty, I was able to break out of my shell and free a confidence I never knew I could have.

Four Pillars of JAGS

My Freshman year JAGS Summit Night Project

Investigate the World

As a JAGS Student, I am constantly observing global events in great detail. In the past, I have been assigned to create multiple projects on current events and present my findings to parents and teachers. By investigating the world, I can become more conscious of the world around me. I have gained more cultural awareness and empathy, being able to break down cultural stereotypes and become more compassionate towards people across the world. In many ways, I have felt myself become a global citizen over the past few years, as my research has instilled a sense of belonging among the broader global community. As I grow older, I hope to help others become more knowledgeable about global issues so that I can contribute to a more present global conscience.

Recognize Perspectives

JAGS education forces its students to put themselves in the shoes of others. Whether it be somebody of a different social class or of a different culture, JAGS students are taught perspectives across the global community. The first time we as JAGS students were completely forced to recognize perspectives was our junior trip to Italy. Being in an unfamiliar environment with different cultural norms forced me and many other JAGS Students to abandon our assumptions of symbols and language. For example, I remember telling a few gentlemen "Dio vi benedica," or God bless you in English to show my appreciation of their help. This was met with some strange laughs and it was only until later when I had learnt that Italians do not tell people "bless you." What I had said was rather interpreted as implying I had some sort of divine ability which allowed me to ask god to bless people. While embarassing at first, I realized the silliness later on.

Basilica di San Francesco d'Assisi, Assisi, Italy

Me and other Jackson students at a Stark High School Model United Nations event

Communicate Ideas

Being a JAGS leader, it's important for me to communicate my ideas with others so that I can make a difference in my community. Through events such as Model UN conferences and leadership meetings, I am given the choice of whether or not to present my own opinions and make an influence in my school. In my first few years of high school, I would've chosen the latter and kept to myself. Now, as I become an upperclassman, more confident in myself, I have spoken up for issues which I see needing changed and made my opinion clear on matters that affect me.

I understand that it is my duty as a JAGS student to not only communicate my own ideas but create an environment for other students to share theirs. I have communicated with underclassman in JAGS and trained multiple of them through my Model UN Club to be confident enough in their own ideas and effective enough in their own speaking to ensure that their ideas will be heard.

Take Action

While JAGS Students may spend their time investigating, recognizing, and communicating in a global perspective, we always make time for our own communities. It is a requirement that every student leaves the academy with 80 hours serving in their communities on top of many more in their other academics. These first 80 hours were only the beginning of my service in the community, as I found a passion and joy in helping others that transformed me from a student volunteering for organizations in need to becoming an active member in their missions.

The first of these is the Living Water Church in Massillon, Ohio. I initially signed up to be an assistant teacher to third through fifth graders for the volunteer hours, but the open arms and kindness of the church has led to me serving as a teacher in LW Sunday school for two years. The second of these are the P.R.I.D.E(Police Reinforcing Important Decisions and Education) Program, where I volunteered as a counselor for sixth through seventh graders for a period of two weeks. Initially, I signed up for the hours and to hang out with my friends, but seeing the absolute fun that these kids had from this activity changed this from a chore to something I looked forward to every morning.

Me as a teacher at the Living Water Sunday School showing off the temporary tattoos that the kids put on my arms.

Page updated

Report abuse