Presidential Classroom Future World Leaders Summit

Kristin Chow
Corner Brook, Newfoundland, Canada
University of Ottawa

I attended the Presidential Classroom Future World Leaders Summit in July of 2006, and I do not hesitate to say that it was a life-changing experience. The Future World Leaders Summit is a unique program, allowing students from over twenty different countries to come together peacefully, to discuss the problems facing our world.

When I attended the Future World Leaders Summit, I was a member of the Canadian Delegation, and International Aid working group. Our main goal for the summit was to come to a consensus on eleven different issues facing today's world-- terrorism, international aid, the International Criminal Court, arms control, etc., by writing communiqués and then presenting them at the final summit meeting. We spent our week in Washington listening to guest speakers, touring the city, and debating and negotiating, all the while trying to gather enough information to write an informed communiqué.

The week was also filled with activities unrelated to writing our communiqués, for example, the World Trade Game. This game challenged the many teams to try to meet the needs of their country, while fulfilling trade agreements and using limited resources. Another crucial element of the summit was the international presence-- the chance to converse with people from all around the world, examine cultural differences and try to work together was absolutely incredible. During my week in Washington I had roommates from the Honduras, Sri Lanka, and India. Often, there were language barriers to overcome, as well as cultural discontinuities. However, meeting these people changed my life; they are my friends to this day, and I have broadened my own cultural horizons, and learned to see the world from a different perspective.

Out of the eleven communiqués presented at the Future World Leaders Summit, the communiqué my group prepared on International Aid was one of just three to be passed, a feat requiring unanimous agreement from over 15 country delegations.

When I returned to Newfoundland, I had not only had the experience of a lifetime, but I had learned many new skills. For example, I could work better in a team setting, and I was a better leader; I had also enhanced my communication skills and greatly strengthened my negotiating abilities. I'd also realized the difference that one person can make, and while the road to making change was long and difficult, perseverance was the key.

This past school year I was the executive of my school's Amnesty International chapter. I organized three separate campaigns: Write for Rights, International Women's Day, and A Taste for Justice, and spread awareness throughout my school about human rights violations. I found that I could apply the new skills I had learned at the Summit and I had the confidence necessary to take on a leadership role.

In any future public service activities that I plan to undertake, I know that the negotiation, leadership and communication skills I learned in Washington will certainly come in handy. I have learned to look at a problem from many different points of view, and to consider the impact and needs of parties with potentially conflicting objectives. The most important thing I learned during the Summit was that with teamwork and communication, any problem can be solved; an agreement can almost always be reached, if only we have an open mind.

The Future World Leaders Summit was one of the most beneficial conferences I have ever attended, and I know it will continue to influence my life as it has thus far.