In September 2026, I had the opportunity to attend The Navigators Youth Camp, centered on IDENTITY, 1 Peter 2:9. Honestly, I thought I was just coming to learn something new. But I left realizing that sometimes, before we can know where we are going, we first need to know WHO WE ARE. The theme really challenged me to look beyond my name, achievements, background, talents, and even what people say about me, and to ask a deeper question: “Who am I in Christ?”

For me, that question became more than a topic; it became a moment of self-discovery. One of the biggest things I learned from this program is: “A life without an identity lacks purpose.” That statement really stayed with me. If I don’t know who I am, how can I know where I’m going? If I don’t understand my identity, how can I truly understand my purpose? Sometimes, we spend so much time trying to discover what we are supposed to do with our lives, what career to pursue, what to become, and what impact we should make, but we don’t take the time to understand “who we are” first. 

The Navigators Youth Camp helped me understand that my identity is not found in my achievements, mistakes, weaknesses, possessions, or opinions of others. My IDENTITY is found in CHRIST. From 1 Peter 2:9, I am chosen by God; I am his own precious person, and I have a purpose that goes beyond what I can see.

That realization was truly powerful for me. I also enjoyed the opportunity to listen, share, and hear different perspectives from others. It created an environment where I could genuinely think, question, discover, and reflect on myself and my relationship with God. One of the beautiful things I love about the Navigators is that they always encourage you to grow, search deeper, and build a stronger relationship with Christ.

Personally, I left the program with a different perspective of myself. I realized that knowing my identity isn’t something I should figure out once and forget about. It is something I need to continually understand and build through my relationship with Christ. This is crucial because when I know who I am, I become more confident about where I am going. When I know who I am, I don’t have to seek validation from anyone around me, and when I understand my identity in Christ, I can discover and live out the purpose He has for my life.

If there is one thing I took away from this entire experience, it is: Before asking, “WHAT IS MY PURPOSE?” I must first ask, “WHO AM I?” Because identity gives direction, and direction leads to purpose.

I’m truly grateful for this experience with the Navigators. I went to the program asking, “WHO AM I?” Yes, I may still be discovering more about that answer every day, but now I know where to look for it.