Meeting the Challenge & Taking Ownership: Ava’s Ascend Story

I was a bum on our fake leather couch, with nothing to do. I felt useless, with no idea what my purpose was. 

I was at a loss, and my mother noticed. 

Around this time, my mom received an email about Unbound. She dove in to learn more about their most popular program, Ascend, feeling like the arrival of the email was… timely.

After a few debates and serious conversations about Ascend between my mom, dad, and I, we all agreed to an admissions appointment with Unbound’s team. I was incredibly skeptical of the program and about what my mom was trying to do for me. However, the call did go well and I agreed to enroll; but not until making it clear that I would not pay for any of it. 

Later, I found out that I would be the youngest Ascend student that year as a fifteen-year-old (the majority of students start between 16-18 years old). The day I found that out honestly boosted my confidence as I realized other people believed I was mature enough to be here, to learn alongside college-aged students. 

The day came for me to travel to APEX. 

By plane.

Alone.

To meet hundreds of strangers. 

All for the first time.

My extroverted self was rather thrilled. 

I was able to quickly make friends and I had a blast. 

I listened to amazing speakers who taught unapologetically Christian content, and though the lectures were remarkable and I was learning a ton, I learned the most about myself through the interactions with all the other students. 

That week at APEX I began to figure out what kind of person I was. And I realized I could be my complete self with complete strangers and not be alone. I was able to immerse myself in a community of reliable, Christ-centered people who were willing to create deep and long-lasting relationships. 

Maybe all I needed was to get out of the house and meet people. . .  

But that wasn’t all God had in store for me. He knew I needed more, He knew that I needed to be challenged.

What I love most about Unbound is that they push and challenge you to grow through project-based learning so that you can experience and understand how to use what you’re learning in real life, and that is exactly what I needed to get myself off that fake leather couch.

As a young girl with no prior adult experience, I was thrown into a community where I was expected to be mature and responsible. 

In Ascend, regardless of my age, I was an adult, and I was held accountable. With these high expectations, I was able to grow and blossom. 

Unbound doesn’t set low expectations just because in some people’s eyes you’re a kid. They know that you can do more than what the world around you thinks you can. I could do more, and that is exactly what they taught me.

Early on in the school year, I felt like I was growing through each Ascend event I attended; however, a lot of the courses I was taking were not getting through to me. 

Academically, Ascend was still just something that my mom had signed me up for. It was just more school to do. 

Around halfway through the Ascend year, one of the skills we focused on was reflection. And that was when my brain muscles started working. I took ownership and responsibility of Ascend as my own idea and I soaked up all the knowledge I was receiving. Before, it had gone in one ear and out the other. But from this point on, I learned so much. I grew extraordinarily as a person in just a few months.

Eventually, the first year of Ascend came to an end, and I had to decide if I wanted to return for a second year. Though I knew that it would be a financial challenge, I couldn’t imagine leaving the community or the relationships I had cultivated in Ascend. 

So, of course, I decided to do a second year.

Ascend is a place where you just might find your purpose. (Though I don’t recommend the approach I took. . . maybe try to start out with a learning mindset from the beginning.) 

Ascend has impacted me so much. I would say it has formed me into the person I am today: a thriving adult, an ambassador for Christ, a mentor, a leader, and more. 

Ascend can teach you all of these things as well, so what are you waiting for? 

Want to learn more about Ascend and see if it’s the right fit for your student? Schedule a call with the Unbound team today!