Greetings from Washington, D.C.

Last week I attended our World Leadership Forum in the nation’s capital. This particular program is part of our Leadership Program series that gives top fifth- through eighth-grade students from around the world the opportunity to gather together and study the country’s most powerful leaders. The students have the chance to see our capital up close and personal, as well as hear from renowned speakers and enjoy access to top government leaders.

This year the program began with an inspiring talk by astronaut Roger Crouch, who took two space shuttle flights into space as a payload specialist after working for years at NASA as a scientist. He couldn’t become a jet pilot because he is colorblind, a condition that also prevented him from becoming an astronaut. But he never gave up his dream of flying into space—and he eventually persevered. Roger Crouch’s message to all of us is to never give up our dreams. What a powerful story he has to tell!

The program continued with a walking tour of Capitol Hill, a visit to the Supreme Court and Library of Congress, and then on to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. The tour also included the impactful U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. Other stops included seeing national monuments, hearing from former Idaho Rep. Orval Hansen, and laying a wreath at the Arlington National Cemetery.

I also had the distinct pleasure of introducing our keynote speaker, General Colin L. Powell, USA (Ret.). His inspiring talk focused on the importance of knowing what you stand for, learning and growing, accomplishing your goals, and being the best that you can be. General Powell has broken down barriers all through his life and risen from a humble beginning in the Bronx to accomplish tremendous goals.

We are the lucky ones. We come together in a world that is full of opportunities—should you choose to take them. If you open your minds and hearts and work hard, you, too, can accomplish your dreams.

One of the best parts of my job is that I get to meet young people from all over the world. We may come from many different places, but our stories are very similar, and so are our dreams. Only when we work together can the barriers between people, countries, and nations come down.

In this series of blogs, we plan to share our thoughts with you and provide a window into what we do, the lives we impact, and the change that we can inspire in all of us as we work together. Bookmark this page, and keep checking back for more updates on how People to People is changing our world and achieving our dreams.

Wishing you success in fulfilling your dreams,

Peg Thomas
President, People to People Ambassador Programs