2026 Teen Ambassador Reflections

Morgan

Hello, I’m Morgan Wesley. Walking into this program, I believed it wouldn’t be much fun. I thought it would be typical history classes like any other school day. If I’m being honest, the first day felt like it, but as the days progressed everyone loosened up and I became more interested. I didn’t mind the public speaking activities like I used to. I’m still a tad bit nervous, but everyone tends to get that way at least once in their life. I may not pursue a passion of being a diplomat or ambassador, but I am very sure that I will pursue an occupation that requires me to travel often. The program helped me with that aspect. Learning cultures is a big thing, whether it is how you greet one another or what you eat.

During this program I was really into the interactive Chinese class. We were given gifts and taught how to properly use the same utensils they use in their culture. When it comes to our time in DC, I was very fond of the last embassy we visited, which was Mexico. They had such a unique inside with different cultures covering every inch of the building. While we were visiting, I could even smell their strong Mexican coffee. I came in with not much knowledge on the Mexican embassy, and the diplomat informed me on so much I didn’t know about.

While I tend to be a shy or, some say, to-myself person, I enjoyed the company of the many intelligent students around me. If I could do this program again and recommend it to more people, I would.

Mina

Hello, my name is Mina Horsley, and this experience at Luminari’s I Want to Be an Ambassador camp was a life‑changing opportunity for me that I am very appreciative of. Before I came to Luminari, I thought I knew all I could about leadership and improvement in my skills. But I was so wrong. In this experience, I evolved in my communication, cultural awareness, and my ability to resolve conflict whether that is with my friends socially or as an ambassador professionally!

As I further developed these skills, we all participated in lively simulations and conversations that made us all laugh and think hard, as well as eat delicious food that I still think about. A moment that resonates with me is when we visited the Mexican Cultural Institute. It was beautiful to see the architecture, mosaics, and the blending of U.S. and Mexican culture, especially at this current moment in time.

Yet my favorite part through all of this was being able to go to DC with my newest and most memorable friends. I hope to collaborate with them in the future as a friend and an ambassador!

Carter

I want to thank everyone for being here, especially those who have worked so hard and supported this camp. This was an experience not many people get, and I did not know what to expect coming into it. But let me say this, it was worth it.

From speakers going over body language and presentation to scenarios like the Cuban Missile Crisis, we learned so many valuable skills that we can not only use if we become diplomats but also use in our everyday lives as we grow and move past high school and into college. Visiting embassies and meeting real diplomats gave me a sense of what really goes on, what ideas are focused upon, and how relations between different countries are established and secured.

Overall, this camp was fun, exciting, and a good learning experience. Thank you.

Mia

During my time at Luminari, I had the opportunity to meet new people. I thought it was going to be boring, and some points were, but the other fun moments made up for it. The people in this camp add so much new perspective to conversations; it makes me think about things in a new lens.

Last Thursday we met a woman who was born with dwarfism and then got into an accident in her 20s. It injured her spine, and now she can’t walk. She told us her life story, and it was very touching. If you think your life is hard, imagine being in her shoes.

We also had a conversation about AI, and that was probably one of the memorable moments because everyone was contributing. It constantly made your brain contradict itself, is it good or bad? Because the people in the conversation made such great points.

Another part I’ll definitely remember will be the DC trip because we got to see many new buildings, and I’ve never seen an embassy before, so that was cool too.

Thank you to everyone who made this experience possible and so exciting.

Vanessa

My time at Luminari was short but effective. This camp taught me how to present myself, showed me different ways of the world and other things that I may not have looked into before, and taught me how to adapt to things I may not be familiar with.

Last Tuesday, the first day at Luminari, I was so nervous to come here because I knew nobody except Marli, but I have grown so much through this camp and I met so many amazing people that have helped me feel more comfortable throughout this experience.

I learned so much about different cultures and the history behind them, ate so much food, and laughed even more. I am so grateful for the opportunity of this camp. Thank you, Luminari.

Brad

Hi, my name is Brad. I go to Pittsburgh Mifflin. In this camp we’ve been saying that our whole time here. But I’ve enjoyed my time at this camp and the unique experiences I have gotten to be a part of.

First, going into this camp I expected it to just be like school. But as soon as the middle of the first day, I came to realize that this camp is more than that… (Pause) It’s unique with the way it teaches us things.

I especially learned that diplomacy is a skill that isn’t just for diplomats; it’s for day‑to‑day life as well. This camp helped me understand the bigger picture of diplomacy, and I really appreciate that. Thank you.

Kamran

I came into this camp because I wanted to go out to DC and because my friend Luc was doing it and he really wanted to do it. But I was not thrilled for the normal camp in Pittsburgh itself.

But tbh, this camp blew me away. My parents always said that I wasn’t good at speaking or that I was white‑washed and not cultured, and this camp taught me how to perfect those skills. All the speakers here had passion for what they were doing, and that made me really engaged in what we were doing.

And then in DC, I learned to take care of myself and gain some responsibility instead of leaning on my parents. I didn’t think I’d learn any of this coming into this camp, and I thought it was gonna be kinda like school. Those expectations were kicked straight out of the water from the first day, and I’m so happy I took this camp. Thank you.

Makenna

My favorite parts of this camp include:

• Going to the different embassies and getting a chance to speak to the ambassadors of Ukraine, Mexico, and China
• Getting to immerse ourselves in Chinese culture by using the pen and special rice paper to paint Asian characters
• Taking a walk around the reflecting pool and taking pics of the Jefferson Memorial and the Washington Monument

This camp gave me the tools to be an effective communicator not just verbally but nonverbally as well. We actually had a speaker come in and talk to us about nonverbal communication, and he told us important information that we could use in any job interview, including:

The proper way to give a handshake

How to sit down and be attentive while speaking with the interviewer so that we don’t seem too eager or nervous for the job, but instead remain calm, cool, and comfortable so that we present ourselves in a respectful way no matter what the interview is for

These experiences gave me the confidence to believe that I would succeed pursuing a career in international relations and foreign policy, and it’s all thanks to Camp Luminari!

Riya

Attending Luminari’s I Want to Be an Ambassador! camp was an unforgettable experience. My most memorable moment was our discussions on topics like AI and cyberbullying, where I truly felt like I was stepping into the role of a real ambassador.

Throughout the camp, I developed skills such as learning about the other side of the story and how to look professional through proper body language, and these taught me how to respect and connect with others and understand different perspectives.

This experience has inspired me to think globally and to approach challenges with empathy and confidence. I know that what I’ve learned here will help me become a leader in the future, and I will carry these lessons with me for years to come.

Zora

On the first day of camp, I didn’t know what to expect. I would soon find out I would learn leadership, diplomacy, and communication that would not only help me learn to be a diplomat but a productive member in today’s society.

Through simulations, I found empathy for important leaders who make tough decisions and strengthened my cultural awareness and humility by learning how to be respectful when learning about another’s culture.

When we got to DC, I was amazed by the monuments, memorials, and embassies we saw. Each embassy represented its country’s traditions, history, and culture. The diplomats we spoke to all shared their journeys on becoming ambassadors, with some studying not related to foreign affairs in college and choosing the career later on.

At the Ukrainian embassy, the diplomats spoke to us about their experience as government officials during a time of war. I was really touched when the diplomat spoke to us about going back to Ukraine each year to visit her family despite fear of the war.

This camp has equipped me with the skills to be a leader who has empathy, effective verbal and nonverbal communication, and an experience I won’t forget. Thank you.

Tawhed

I had an awesome experience in the Luminari camp. It was amazing how we got to meet with different people and how we got to learn more about different cultures. I really enjoyed when we went to different embassies and met different diplomats.

It taught me many important skills. It also taught me some things that I was not aware of before I joined the camp. I think Luminari taught me more than any other camp.

Kendyll

This Luminari Camp has brought so many new experiences into my life.

At the beginning of the program, I didn’t know a lot of people well, but I can now consider many of them my friends. One of my favorite parts about revisiting Washington, D.C. was exploring new places that I had never seen before. Every day was an opportunity to learn something new and gain a different perspective on the world.

Visiting the embassies and hearing diplomats discuss their careers, responsibilities, and views on world issues was an incredible experience. I found the conversations both fascinating and educational. Learning about diplomacy and how countries work together gave me a better understanding of the world and the importance of communication and leadership.

This experience has helped me personally because it clarified why I am interested in pursuing a career in this field. The knowledge and professionalism demonstrated by the diplomats were truly inspiring. I am very grateful for everything I learned, the friendships I made, and the unforgettable memories I gained. Thank you for this experience.

Frederick

At Luminari, I learned much to do with body language and public speaking in the first part of camp. We had many amazing and passionate speakers who spoke on these and other topics, which prepared us for DC.

In DC, we saw three different embassies, ate delicious food, and visited national monuments. My experience at Luminari was a fun, educational experience with many opportunities to go along with it. For me, it felt like a path starter to an amazing future.

Luc

This camp helped me improve in skills that made me have to make subtle changes and big changes, both making a big impact on how I represent myself. One of the ways we were taught to express ourselves was by using body language instead of just talking. Learning body language will help me through life no matter what path I take.

My favorite part of D.C. was going to the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China. The diplomats we met there expanded my horizons of Chinese culture and showed me their complicated relations throughout the world.

In general, all of the people who came and helped teach were completely devoted to their expertise, which gave me a very interactive and strong learning experience.

Claire

The experience at Luminari was eye‑opening. Not only did I learn so much from the powerful people I met along the way, but the friends I made created the memorable moments I will remember forever.

This trip made me excited for my future job. Even if I don’t become an ambassador, the empathetic requirements I learned to be in that position will help me with many situations going forward.

I am so thankful I was able to come to DC and visit the embassies, monuments, and museums. I truly had the best time in this program while also learning in the process, and I recommend it to any humanities‑focused students. Thank you!