an inspiring weekend.

There is something infinitely powerful about listening to a 14 year old girl address an audience of over 200 young people about why she is hopeful for the future, or to an 18 year old boy say that he wants to be a force for good in his community that is mainly run by gangs, or to a 13 year old girl living with a disability tell me that she wants to go to Harvard, and that she wants to travel around the world telling people about peace.

This weekend was such a privilege to be a part of. About 225 young people and 40 of their teachers came to Oregon State for the conference that we had been planning for the past 2 months. It was wild to see all of it come together: to see the faces of all the names that I had been looking at on paper for so long and to feel their energy in the room.

Nobel Peace Prize Winner Rigoberta Menchu Tum spoke to the students about never giving up in the face of adversity, stressing that inner peace is crucial if one is to begin to work for outer peace, and the importance of respect for our physical world. Despite the violence and suffering that she has lived through, she speaks strongly of continuing to work for peace and for people--and it was obvious that her heart is for empowering youth like those who gathered this weekend.

rigoberta menchu tum by mike noel

The kids were able to present the service projects they have been working on throughout the year, visit sites like the community garden in town during our service projects, and attend workshops on issues like Human Rights in North Africa. They were also able to individually go on stage to speak of what inspires them and light candles of inspiration with Rigoberta, which I loved.  We even had a dance for them on Saturday night, which was a lot of fun (Mike generously DJ-ed the event, and we definitely got schooled on pop music of 2011. Some of the girls taught me some dance moves, too, so watch out).

All of the hours that we put into this conference were completely worth seeing it all come together. It was wonderful to meet the kids, as so many of them truly inspired me. It was as powerful for their teachers, too, who repeatedly told us how important the weekend was for them and their students alike.

Equally as wonderful was to come home as exhausted as we were yesterday knowing that we had pulled it off! My boss graciously told us she didn't want to see us for at least a few days, which I gladly took advantage of today by sleeping in a bit, going for a run in the morning, and reading outside. Along with catching up on my neglected laundry and grocery shopping, I was able to rest in the fact that, amid the often-negative news streaming into our consciousness every day, there are beautiful, energetic, creative, and hopeful young people who want to (and will) make a difference- and we were able to encourage them this weekend. And I have no doubt that many of those kids are bound for greatness.

peace is not something you wish for,

it is something you make, something you are, 

something you do, and something you give away.

-robert fulghum