Patriot Academy is having a nation-wide impact that is expanding every single year. The alumni that are trained at Patriot Academy are not your “average” young people as evidenced by the drive and passion that mark their lives. No matter the career or position they find themselves in, the young leaders that have experienced Patriot Academy take the skills they have learned and put them to use in making a difference.
Here at the Patriot Press, we are going to highlight some of these Patriot Academy graduates who are truly leading the change in America.
Name: Lauren McCormick
Age: 28
State: the Great state of Texas
Year(s) Attended: 2
College: Associate of Arts-General Studies-Cisco College 2010, Bachelor of Arts-Texas Tech University-General Studies-English, history, Integrative Studies 2013
What first got you interested in Patriot Academy?
I found out about Patriot Academy through Rick Green’s Constitution Alive! Program. In the curriculum, he discusses Patriot Academy and it caught my attention and I wanted to found out more about it and get involved in the program.
Was the experience what you had expected? Why or why not?
The experience was way beyond what I ever expected. I’m a really quiet person. I like to watch, listen, and then after I have warmed up to something, I dive right in. It was the same way with Patriot Academy. The first year, I didn’t say much just really observed, listened, and learned the process.
However, the second year I was definitely more involved. I was not afraid of talking in committees and asking questions. I was more confident and my bill regarding the foster care system was passed in committee, then passed on the House floor and then signed by the governor.
Has Patriot Academy changed the direction where you see your life heading?
Patriot Academy radically changed my life. While at Patriot Academy, I heard Tim Barton talking about the WallBuilders internship program, which really caught my interest. I thought it would be amazing to intern for WallBuilders but I found out the interns had to be 18-25 and I was 27 at the time.
I didn’t think much more about it, until I got back home and was praying for direction in what God wanted me to do in my life. I had earned an Associates Degree in General Studies from Cisco College and a Bachelor of Arts from Texas Tech University in English, history, and integrative studies before attending Patriot Academy. I was looking for a job that I would both enjoy and be good at. I wanted to do something that pertained to my passions – writing and researching. I have always loved reading. As a kid, I devoured all the classics and read all the time (I still do and carry a couple books in my purse wherever I go.)
I prayed about it for a while and really felt like God was telling me to contact Tim Barton about a writing position at WallBuilders. I did, and within a few months I became a writer/researcher for WallBuilders.
If I hadn’t attended Patriot Academy, I may never have met and talked with Tim Barton and found out about the internship program at WallBuilders. Without Patriot Academy I may never have gotten the job I love working at WallBuilders.
What particular skills did Patriot Academy teach you that you are using today?
Public speaking was definitely not something I was very good at. The last time I attended Patriot Academy, I had to talk to a lot of people about my bill and present it on the floor. This forced me to speak to a lot of people. Normally, I would never have talked to that many people, but I wanted my bill to pass and for people to really understand it. This caused me to push myself and get out of my comfort zone. It really helped prepare me and give me confidence for when I helped put on some of the annual Wallbuilders conferences
What opportunities and/or connections came as a result of Patriot Academy?
My job at WallBuilders came as a result of my attending Patriot Academy. If I had never attending Patriot Academy, I probably would not be working for WallBuilders. I’m so incredibly thankful God placed me at Patriot Academy when He did. Now, I’ve got an amazing job I absolutely love as a writer/researcher for an organization that is making a difference in America on a daily basis.
What was the most important thing you learned at Patriot Academy?
Patriot Academy taught me the importance of being engaged in the process. The lessons I learned there gave me the confidence to get involved and be a part of the change I desire to see in this country.
