Summer is a time for play and relaxation, especially in the eyes of students. Who would want to waste their time going to a camp where they get lectured about the negative effects of the usage of tobacco, drugs and alcohol?

Don"t teens hear enough about that from their school and their parents?

That is usually the first thought that comes into the minds of teens invited to go to the Illinois Teen Institute. ITI is a five-day leadership campout in Monmouth at Monmouth College. The college opens its campus to the camp and accommodates most of our needs and give us high school students a sense of college life.

Not only is the campus great, but the volunteer staff and participants also are extraordinary. They are the ones who make this event so memorable because of how kind and open everyone there seems to be.

Last summer was my second time going to ITI through a scholarship from the Illinois Valley Anti-Drug Coalition. It is one of the best experiences I get to do all year. One of the best qualities ITI has is the teens who come and participate at this incredible camp. It amazes me how many teens my age are so strongly against the abuse of tobacco, drugs and alcohol and how they work with their community to try to get rid of these horrible habits.

I have made many friends from ITI because you start to have a connection with them since there are these common goals to not only help out our communities but also hopefully one day, the world.

Before coming to ITI, I had no idea how to make my community better. With the help of what is known as a Community Action Team group, the volunteer staff helped me and many other teens by coming up with some brilliant ideas and how to get them started and on the go.

For example, Friday, Nov. 20, the Illinois Valley Anti-Drug Coalition is hosting a teen trivia night when teens are more than welcome to come join the fun. These are some activities ITI helps come up with to get teens and even families involved in fun activities with the community.

The camp also gives teens some great opportunities that are sometimes hard to come by, especially with a group of others your age. ITI lets participants choose two out of 15 or more classes that can either give you more ideas on how to help your community or even how to help yourself personally.

Some of the classes are yoga, how to start an organization for the community, how to advertise positive actions and more. Some of the classes I took were an "Athletes Only" class and a "Confidence Builder" class.

The athletes session was really neat because it taught teen athletes how to take care of our bodies better by eating the right foods and how using harmful substances can ruin a teen athlete"s performance in the sport the athlete loves to play. The confidence class did many fun and hilarious activities that in the end made people feel more comfortable to stand up for their beliefs and find more faith in themselves.

I am so glad I had the experience of going to ITI because of all the great people I met and lessons I learned. Because of this camp, I am always going to stand by my beliefs, even if it is not the popular choice. I would advise anyone to come see what a great experience ITI is.

It is astonishing how many teens are the ones who are making the changes in their community. It just shows that no job is too big as long as you have a great desire to make that change. Hence the ITI slogan for this year, "Change Your World!"

• CATHERINE RINEARSON is a senior at Marquette High School,who writes, "in the future I am in hopes of becoming a doctor and writing is a true part of being one. It would be amazing to have my own column in the future in which I can write about health and new medical wonders."All teens are invited to share their opinions or respond to this column. Send via e-mail to newsroom@mywebtimes.com.