
— Hugh O'Brian, The Freedom to Choose
At left Zoe and her friends at the Hugh O'Brian World Leadership Conference (WLC) on the campus of Loyola University in Chicago, Illinois. Students in their sophomore year are chosen from all over the world and represent all fifty states and 19 countries and regions. Founded in 1958 by American actor Hugh O'Brian, to date more than 460,000 students have attended HOBY programs. Mr O'Brian was inspired by a visit with Dr. Albert Schweitzer, the renowned theologian, humanitarian and Nobel Laureate to create an organization dedicated to training and nurturing the young leaders of tomorrow. Its mission is to provide lifelong leadership development opportunities that empower youth to achieve their highest potential and gain knowledge of leadership skills. This summer, my granddaughter Zoe was chosen to attend the Hugh O'Brian World Leadership Conference. She met students from all over the world and has come back inspired to do great things. Knowing my granddaughter and her determination and desire, she will do just that.

Zoe told me that two of her best friends from WLC were a young man from Beijing and a young girl from Hong Kong and they introduced Zoe to the political unrest between their countries from their separate perspectives but in respectful conversation with each other. That is what the world should be like, where we all have our differences but are able to peacefully coexist and take care of our shared world.
Way to go Zoe and all of the young students, growing, sharing and working for a better future!