When I was 17 I had no idea of who I wanted to be or where I wanted to go. All I knew was I didn’t want to be like any man I met that was supposed to be a role model for me. The only men I had met up to that point were men who had no chests or spines who thought the epitome of a good life was to work a job, play games with their friends, and surrender the running of their life and household to their wife. Wives who resented their husbands for allowing themselves to be castrated by them.
When the time came to attend my first Banquet and Ball, I expected it to be just another dance, with everyone dressed a bit nicer. I was so very wrong. I experienced honor I had never received from anyone else before in my life. I fought with men who drew blood for the honor of agonizing over a dance card for 30+ hours. I saw for the first time what an honorable woman of God looked like. My perspective on the kingdom of God and trajectory of life was changed.
Every single ball since then has only built me stronger. I can confidently say that Banquet and Ball was the most formative thing my younger self ever went through, and continuing to be a part of it has been an honor I can only hope to continue to share with others.