If given the chance to learn how to save the world, would you take it?

Over the summer, five students from the ODA Invisible Children Club attended a leadership summit that gave them just that chance. The Fourth Estate Leadership Summit, held at UCLA, is a conference held by Invisible Children to educate and inspire young people to become leaders in their local communities and beyond.

Invisible Children is an activist organization that was founded in 2004. Their mission is to rescue and rehabilitate Ugandan children kidnapped and forced to become child soldiers by the rebel Joseph Kony.

On Wednesday August 28th, Mrs. Giraud, Francisco Marcano (’15) , Ben Martin(’16), Rachel Rodgers (’15), Morgan Woods (’15), and Federico Frias (’15) spoke at Ovation about their experiences at the summit.

“There are no words to describe the experience other than extremely eye-opening and inspiring,” says Morgan Woods.

“It really inspired me to go out into the world and change something,” says Rachel Rogers.

Mrs. Giraud said, “It was a reminder that all things are possible. That nothing is out of reach.”

After the conference, the energy that filled the kids with this idea that they can make a difference was discernible. “Now they are back and mobilizing,” she added, with a smile.

But the Invisible Children club members aren’t the only ones interested in changing the world. Many members of the ODA community are dedicated to making a positive change to the world.

What does changing the world mean to other members of the ODA community?

Chase Johnson ’16 cares about the world around him, especially on the issue of equality. “Changing the world means so many things to me. It’s hard to find a place to start,” he said.

Emma Henson ’15 said, “Changing the world means being a mover and shaker, turning things upside down and creating a radical shift in thought processes or institutions. I would for sure change the thrusting of democracy on smaller nations as well as try to soothe all kinds of religious violence. Of course, I would also end world hunger because half the world is starving while the other half keeps up with the Kardashians.”

With so many students willing and able to make changes in the world, there is no doubt ODA will make great strides towards changing the world.

In the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”