For the past forty-two years, the Conference On National Affairs has impacted young lives around the nation, but the impact that this week has had on Benjamin Schiff is like none other. Although he has had a rough past, Ben Schiff is one of the most open people when sharing what he has been through. During free time on Wednesday, those that chose to climb to the summit of the mountain were fortunate enough to hear his story. However, he is willing to share with anyone on these mountains.
Ben Schiff was born in Utah. After he moved around frequently, he moved to Michigan when he was 7 years old. Never having met his father, the only father he ever knew was an abusive stepfather that married his mother when they first lived in Michigan. When he was 12 years old, he moved into a haven for abused families, but unfortunately, they were only allowed to stay for a month and then were forced to fend for themselves on the streets of Pontiac. The family did find an apartment to move into but after 6 months, they found themselves back on the streets.
Foster care was then the only option for Ben. “I moved about every week.” Schiff stated. “The thing about foster care is that you never really know for sure how long you will be in one place. I was fortunate to finally be with a family for one year, but I was taken away for a weekend and put back under the care of my mother.”
Ben’s world was suddenly in a frenzy once again. His mother was extradited to Texas because she had a warrant from 1988 for violating probation. “Everything finally started making sense. I realized that the reasons we had moved so much when I was younger was because she was always running from the law. She had been lying to me my entire life and everything I believed about her disappeared.” Ben, much to his dismay, was then put back into foster care.
Ben began living with his brother and was working long hours so that he could help split the rent with his brother, but his life was shattered when he received a notice in the mail that none of the bills were being paid. His brother was using all of the money that Ben had been contributing from his hours of labor, to pay for drugs and alcohol. Instead of staying in such a hostile environment, he moved in with a man that he was working with and they split everything 50-50. “It was a relatively nice place to stay because I knew I was in a stable environment. It was nothing like having a family, though. People are always saying ‘oh I hate my parents’ and such but what they don’t realize is what it is like to not have parents, and that your parents do so much for you.”
Ben worked long hours at a grocery store for two years and then in subcontracting where he did arbitrary maintenance for the city. When he was 16 he was legally emancipated by the state, which helped him greatly but he notes how “emancipated minors are not given certain rights that they truly deserve. There are these new laws that require someone to be 18, leaving the emancipated minors in the dust.
Ever since Ben was 15, he had wanted to enlist in the army. He figured that if there was someone fighting with a wife and kids, then he would much rather have himself fighting in their place. So, when he was 17 he enlisted and is now considered in the army reserve and is in active duty during the summer only. He is in the ROTC at Central Michigan University. “After that I will get my commission as an officer and serve the remainder of my twenty years so that I am able to retire early in life and hopefully start a political career.”
Ben, during his freshman and sophomore year of high school, was unable to afford the infamously expensive Youth In Government program, but was finally able to pay during his junior year after having worked so hard. He was then elected President of his school’s delegation during his senior year. Before Ben became president, the delegation only had around 6 members, but with his election, the number of participants increased to 17. “Youth In Government was such an amazing program and helped me so much in my life, that I wanted to return the favor.”
When he was offered the opportunity to apply for CONA, he jumped at the chance and was accepted. He is currently missing training for the army reserve back home just to be here and he conveyed how “ it is such a beautiful place. I love being able to completely disagree with someone during committee, but then come outside and give them a big hug. Here, I have a family, whereas back home, I don’t. So, it’s a real breath of fresh air just being here.” Ben would love to thank Brent, Gale, all the advisors, and all of the delegates at CONA for giving him the best experience and for changing his life.
Archive for category Reporting from Blue Ridge
O the bugle, the best alarm clock in the whole world! It was slightly easier and slightly harder to get up this morning. Easier because I knew what great things to expect, harder because I was so sore from all the work, and climbing, I did the day before. I rolled out of bed a went to morning meditation with Bob, the Conference Director, which was very relaxing, a nice change of pace from the intense debate the day before. Breakfast had a southern feel with biscuit ‘n gravy and grits. After our delegation meetings, we all met on the Lee Hall steps for our conference picture. Doing the wave added a fun twist to this slightly mundane tradition. First Committee Hearing groups were finished slightly before our lunch of sweet and sour meatballs, BBQ chicken, and macaroni salad. The slight break was much appreciated but the seriousness of the conference was quickly remembered once delegates found out who made it to second committee. Those proposals in Second Committee were debated until dinner and were debated again until devotional.
~The Ridge Writer
Reporting From Blue Ridge
Jun 30
I knew when I woke up to the sound of trumpets blaring this would be unlike any other day. After the little sleep I got on the bus it was almost impossible for me to roll out of bed, but I found myself at the worship service. The morning was spent singing and reflecting on what each of us could get out of this experience, it was a nice way to start the week. I spent the remainder of my morning on the porch talking to fellow delegates from other states. It was amazing that even with such different “accents” we all seemed to find some common ground. I found my way to the Blue Ridge Center (BRC) for lunch were I was surprised to find a Mexican spread in the middle of North Carolina. Shortly after lunch the whole CONA assembly headed for the Amphitheater for our Opening Ceremony. The ceremony started with a the procession of the flags and was emceed by Presiding Officer (PO) Laura Bolen. Each of our PO’s gave compelling speeches of what CONA meant to them and briefly went over everyday rules and regulations.The other five PO’s consist of Danielle Desaulniers, Emily Pramik, Victoria Romano, Derek Summerville, and Brian Tinsman. Once dismissed from Opening Ceremony we were sent to Proposal Sharing Groups to gather constructive criticism and then went to First Committee. We took a short break for our Italian supper. First Committee Hearings reconvened until the mixer. The mixer was hosted by the Florida Delegation and consisted of dancing and unique card matching activities. The mixer ended with a thoughtful devotional by the Massachusetts and the night ended with delegation meetings.
~The Ridge Writer