a humbling moment Every quarter in the internship, they hand out about 25 “Carpe Diem” awards to interns who are recognized for excellence and performance in the internship. Carpe Diem is latin (i think) for ‘Sieze the Day’. The awards normally happen on Tuesday every quarter right after chapel is over and then they call every winner up to receive their award. However, on this particular Tuesday, they called my name. They went over my achievements, etc… After every department went through and named their award winners, the CFO of the ministry got up and started to announce some awards in his department. Then they announced a ‘special award’ winner (of course not giving the name). They mentioned that they havent given this award in a couple years and that they were resurrecting it back into existance to be given every year. This award is known as the “Raging Bear” award. He went over what this special recognition was all about and then started to list of the characteristics of the individual. Once he started to go over my accomplishments, I didn’t know what to say. They called me up and shook my hand and kept going about how valued I am, etc… Here are some pictures of the awards: Carpe Diem Award: Raging Bear Award: And here is the text that they sent out to the entire ministry (via email):
RagingBear
Definition: An Intern who consistently exceeds expectations in all aspects of their ministry placement, including yielding results that are truly exceptional.
Congratulations to Erik Herrera for receiving the Raging Bear award!
Erik Herrera has redefined the role of an intern in the Honor Academy Mobilization department, and has made incredible progress in bringing customer focused excellence into the marketing area.
Some of his works include: the creation of “First Impressions”, a brand new sub-department of HA Marketing, who’s sole aim is improving quality of all customer service initiatives, the complete re-definition, design, and layout of the new Intern Handbook, the design of the new HA campus map through lengthy interface with outsourced vendors, customer interface for HA marketing with Teen Mania Canada, primary lead on quality improvement from the customer’s perspective for HA campus visit weekends, and a refining of almost every official form used by the Honor Academy today.
Erik Herrera goes beyond the ordinary in every project he puts his mind to and has become a very trusted partner of the Honor Academy marketing director. A highly valued resource for Teen Mania.
Father, help me to be intrusted with this and to make it evident of the true source of the credit: yourself. Father, I realize that without you, I am nothing. The true reward is not a Carpe Diem or a “raging bear” but the fact the reward of finishing the work you have called me to and receiving the prize when I walk into heaven. I pray with everything I am, that my work will not just be pleasing, but will be more than you would have expected, and that I can continue to tackle myself and die to it in the process.. I love You Father. Every time someone sends me a note of encouragement, let that be reminded that it is You in me, not myself.
sweet! That is rock’n! Ah hem… yeah yeah… that’s my brother, lol… For real, what an honor… I am kinda speechless I dont know what to say. LOL… now that I’m going to Honor Academy… I have a lot to live up to… that or I will always be known as “erik’s little sister”- ha ha. Thanks for our convos these past few days… super dooper encouraging. I love you and GREAT JOB!!!!
P.S.- thanks for updating the site… looks good (way better than mine)
P.P.S.- lol… I like how you title your entries… that’s cute
congrats erik,
ive thought you were a raging bear for a long time.
your capitan sailing away…
brian out
Congrats. I had never heard of it (I can only guess mine was one of the years they didn’t do it) but my husband says only 2 were given in his class- and those two were the only two asked to stay for FOTBH.
Sounds as if you’ve been busy anyway
I have to say, I am so humbled by hearing what you have said here. I know it was almost a goal of mine to get a Capre Diem award in my year (but I didn’t work at it enough :-p) and I knew every time they gave it out that I wasn’t going to receive one.
Raging Bear: the one who goes the farthest to do the best they can with what they are given… yep fits you perfectly.
Keep up the good work!
that’s awesome !!!!!!!!!! congrats bo congrats… !
~GZ