RUMFORD — As Mountain Valley High School seniors prepare for life after graduation, they take various paths. Some fill out college applications and scholarship forms. Others talk to military recruiters.

For senior MacKenzie McInnis, preparation involved a six-day program in Washington, D.C. He chose to participate in the National Youth Leadership Forum: Careers in National Security – Diplomacy, Intelligence & Defense. In short, students learn about careers that keep the nation, and its citizens, safe.

McInnis said, “I chose to go to the forum because it was a once in a lifetime opportunity with great set ups for future jobs. Also this program is not one you may simply sign up for; you have to be recommended by an anonymous teacher. So I felt it was an honor someone would see me as so qualified.”

According to the envisionexperience.com website, students participate in hands-on simulation experiences dealing with security challenges and threats. They meet civilian policy makers and senior military officers. Finally, they make lasting friendships with future leaders.

It is those friendships that impressed McInnis.

He said, “The most memorable thing for me was the close friends I made in such a short period of ?time from all over the country, the closest of which was a group made up of one guy from the state of Washington, another from LA, a third from Orlando and another guy from Honolulu, Hawaii.”

Asked about the highlight of the trip, McInnis could not choose just one.

He explained, “The whole thing really. We met amazing people who can be credited with defending our ?nation, saw the whole of the D.C. area and met with peers from all over the country. It was ?just all together an unbelievable experience.”

A once-in-a-lifetime experience like this one doesn’t come without cost. McInnis said, “The trip all together cost me more than $2000, which was paid by me, my parents and several generous supporters who gave donations.”

While not a school-sponsored program, one of McInnis’s school activities paved the way.

“The Forum became interested in me because of my experience in the Boys State program last year which the school helped me get to,” he said.

McInnis was so enthusiastic about his experience that he hopes other students will become involved in National Youth Leadership Forums.

“The Forum was an amazing opportunity and I would suggest the Envision experience to any youth who is looking for experience in a variety of fields. National Defense isn’t their only forum. They have dozens of others in different fields including, health care, engineering and journalism,” he said. “If a classmate was interested in this I would tell them to go for it. I would let them know you get out of the program double what you put in.”

As a result of his experience, McInnis plans to study engineering if he is accepted at University of Maine at Orono. Central Maine Community College has accepted him for a liberal arts program.

McInnis drew the connection between engineering and national security. “I learned that keeping up with technology is important for defense. With a degree in engineering, I can help work on advancements in technology for the military.”