Amber Long
Amber Long
Age: 21
Hometown: Garland, TX
School: Texas Southern University
Major/Minor: Business Management
Site/s served: Casa Linda
Q: Why did you want to serve a second summer as a PT intern?
A: The reason why I chose to come a second summer is because of my youth. At the end of the summer, I finally got a great connection with my kids and felt like I needed some more time to teach them how to do better spiritually and better in life.
Q: What is the most important lesson you have learned from working with underserved youth?
A: The most important lesson is that they are grateful for what they have. Some of my kids go through some really hard times, but they still come to Casa Linda with a big smile on there face, because they accept what they have in life and they are happy with it.
Q: How has PT affected your faith journey?
A: PT really made me realize that I need to get closer to God and learn about His word. My youth asked me so many questions about God and it disappointed me that I was not able to answer all their questions. I will be graduating soon, starting a future, getting married, having kids, and I want to be able to answer ALL of the questions that my children may ask of me about God. So now I am reading the Bible more, when I struggle I try to find a passage to help me through my struggle.
Q: How has your experience with PT helped you to better understand your gifts and your calling?
A: I realize that I have a gift of leading and teaching youth about God. I seem to be able to get to their level through the way I act and my height. I’ve now joined Wednesday Night Bible study at Wheeler Ave. (my church) as a teacher for youth grades from 6th-8th.
Q: What is your favorite part of the Project Transformation experience?
A: My favorite part of the PT experience was being with such great interns. Camp was just AMAZING!!! We all connected as one and we just focused on the reason why we were there. The interns and I got crunk for Jesus at camp. We got the youth to get comfortable and let them be themselves. I can not express how wonderful that experience was. I LOVE URBAN CAMP!!!
Q: What are your future vocational plans and how has PT helped to shape or clarify those plans?
A: I am a teacher for Wednesday Bible Study and I am also going to help youth at YMCA with an organization I am in. PT helped me to improve my skills with working with youth. I truly feel that I am able to connect with youth confidently.
Q: What have you learned from living with other young adults in such a diverse Christian community?
A: I have learned that we all have different views of how to live a Christian life. I feel that people learned different things from the Bible. We should respect what others feel, because God is the only one that knows the true message that he is trying to bring.
Q: What is the most important thing you will take away from serving through Project Transformation?
A: I am a child “Under Construction”. A lot of the interns’ faith was so strong and I just know that I need to get stronger in my faith. They taught me so much and I know that because of them and the PT staff that I will be able to get stronger in my faith.
Q: What advice would you give to a young adult who is interested in serving as a PT intern?
A: You better get ready for the BEST summer of your life. It is a wonderful experience and I know that through serving PT that you will get stronger in your faith!!!