Dear Mrs. Reynolds,

Firstly, I would like to apologize that this letter comes such a long time after I attended the 45th annual International Achievement Summit in Los Angeles. In fact, various events in the last few months of a life prevented, yet reminded me, to write and thank you for the unforgettable time I had at the conference.

The Summit was somewhat of a surreal experience for me. The opportunity to interact not only with outstanding young and promising students from around the world, but also with world leaders drawn from a diverse collection of professional and academic fields left an indelible mark on my identity.

I must admit that after returning to Israel, it took me considerable time to fully understand and appreciate the experience I had been through. Unfortunately, for Israel in general and for me in particular, Israel was thrown into war with Lebanon just weeks after my return. I soon found myself in an environment almost the opposite of that which I encountered in L.A., exchanging my suit for a combat uniform, and moving from an elegant hotel to the harsh struggle of the battlefield. Throughout the war, my experience at the Summit helped to keep me sane, though perhaps in a somewhat indirect, obscure way. Knowing that a normal, exciting life, and the opportunities for success to which I was exposed in L.A., lay ahead, was instrumental in balancing the mental and physical stresses of this difficult time.

Unfortunately (or fortunately, if looked at another way), I was injured during the war, at Kfar Giladi, in an incident in which 13 of my fellow soldiers were killed. While I was hospitalized, I couldn’t help thinking about the sharp change I had felt as I went from being “on top of the world” at the conference, to almost losing my life in the war. However, I also felt reassured by the experience I had gone through in L.A., and the time that I had lying in a hospital bed with almost nothing to do helped me to digest properly this unbelievable experience. As I daydreamed, memories and lessons from the Summit were raised in my mind, which helped to lift my spirit and my confidence in the fact that I could overcome my injury.

Dear Mrs. Reynolds,

I just returned to Cambridge, Massachusetts and wanted to write to you immediately to tell you how much those four wonderful days in Los Angeles are continuously on my mind and how I was inspired by the honorees and delegates I was able to meet. The 2006 International Achievement Summit has been one of the happiest moments in my life and has shaped my outlook on life significantly. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to attend the Achievement Summit in Los Angeles this year. Without your generosity and sponsorship, I would never have been able to experience this unique event. Let me share a few moments with you.

To begin with, I was struck by the presence of such a large number of international students from all over the world and the wonderful opportunity to connect with people. I was moved by the exchange of ideas, future plans and career goals among the student delegates themselves, but also the sincere interest the honorees revealed in us. Achievement, as was pointed out during one of the panels, is not an individualistic attempt to make our world a better place. Instead, community, exchange, and solidarity were what I experienced during these four days and have touched me deeply.

As someone aspiring a career as a writer,

I was particularly struck to meet Carlos Fuentes and Gore Vidal, with whom I had wonderful conversations on the social and political roles of writers, the true impact writers can make, and how to start a writing career.

I wish to express the impact these conversations had on my outlook and future plans. I am also very much interested in political thought, and I never envisioned being able to have such an inspiring conversation with Ralph Nader during one of the afternoons, and to be able to discuss current political issues with him. Of course, President Clinton’s speech was one of the highlights from the 2006 Summit, and he brilliantly expressed the need for the future of politics to seek “integration” instead of “interdependence.” His words are still on my mind, as I reflect on the importance of his incredible speech.

Dear Mrs. Reynolds,

As I sit here trying to think of a way to truly express my gratitude, I am at a loss for words. I can only say that the Summit was one of the most inspiring and intellectually stimulating events of my life, and I will forever be grateful for your sponsorship.

Like many student delegates before me, I have had a remarkably difficult time explaining the weekend’s events to my family and friends. For good reason, I have received many skeptical looks when I tell them that, on Friday alone, former President Bill Clinton, Ralph Nader, and Justice Anthony Kennedy spoke about their hopes for the future of our country, and Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Trisha Yearwood, and Sonny Rollins performed at the Fox Studios.

One of my highlights was meeting Archbishop Desmond Tutu. As I was going to breakfast, I ran into the Archbishop in the hallway. I was so surprised, all I could say was, “Oh! It’s so nice to see you!” Without hesitating, the Archbishop replied, “No, it’s so nice to see you!” His speech at the LACMA — no more than five minutes long — inspired me beyond belief.

Another highlight was speaking with Prince Salman of Bahrain. I was utterly amazed by how approachable Prince Salman was, and I soon found myself joking with him as I would one of my peers. Listening to the prince speak about the progress he has made in his country regarding education, workers’ rights, and economic stability made me realize how much one person can do … even by the young age of 36.

Finally, I would like to stress that simply conversing with the other student delegates was a highlight for me. With so many intellectual, motivated, thoughtful young people in the world, surely we should be optimistic about the future.

Again, thank you so much for your sponsorship of such an unbelievable event and for bestowing upon me the opportunity to attend. I assure you that I will strive to live out the messages we received throughout the weekend: to follow my passion, to not be afraid to fail, and to serve the public no matter my occupation.

Sincerely,

Vanessa Kolbe

Dear Mrs. Reynolds,

Thanks very, very much for including me in the 2006 Academy of Achievement Summit in Los Angeles. Your generosity is only matched by the expertise you and other Academy staff demonstrated in putting together a weekend filled with wide-ranging provocation, amazing entertainment, and intense learning. It will not be an experience that I will soon forget, and it is one for which I am deeply grateful.

There’s nothing in the world quite like dancing to Sheryl Crow with the President of Latvia and the Director of the International Atomic Energy Agency while Robin Williams tries to steal the mic and rap. And seeing John Williams conduct the L.A. Philharmonic to provide accompaniment for top opera singers and other performers was, in a word, unbelievable. That the world’s best tap dancer and the world’s best jazz soloist had to be eased offstage was representative of the fact that, throughout the weekend, the audience’s energy and awe was mirrored by that of the honorees. Despite such intensity, however, pretenses were noticeably absent: student delegates and honored guests shared down-to-earth attitudes that facilitated meaningful connection and honest communication. Nowhere was this more evident than in the first panel discussion involving Ben Carson, Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, and Francis Collins. Many of us shared the sense that the wide-ranging and brutally honest discussion between these four scientists, of widely diverging backgrounds and opinions, was rare and precious.

Thus, within hours of the Summit’s commencement, I realized that all of us had been granted a special window onto a world of authority and excellence, and — even more amazingly — a unique perspective on the ambiguities and debates that riddle that world as any other. It was both surprising and comforting to see that individuals at the top of their fields faced dilemmas not dissimilar to those confronted by us who (hopefully) still have a great deal to learn and do.

Dear Mrs. Reynolds,

Trying to settle back into life in the United Kingdom and sit exams just two days after returning from such an amazing experience as the 45th annual International Achievement Summit has been difficult. As I am sure all the other students could testify, the Summit was a truly remarkable experience and I want to thank you sincerely for the opportunity to attend such a meeting. As was stated in the introductory talk, the Achievement Summit is “one of the world’s best kept secrets.” I had no idea that I would get the opportunity not only to hear from inspiring people at the top of their field but also get to meet them personally and even get to know a few over the couple of days through dinners, bus rides and concerts. Trying to explain to family and friends is impossible as putting into words the wonder of the conference is too difficult.

It was fascinating to hear from Mr. Bill Clinton, a man who has held such a position of responsibility. I was encouraged by the changes in Bahrain we heard about from His Highness Shaikh Salman bin Hamad and had great pleasure in eating dinner beside Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei, an inspirational man fighting for peace. Perhaps I was most challenged and motivated by Dr. Benjamin Carson and his lovely wife Candy. Dr. Carson has developed incredible skills in rising to such a respected position in medicine, which is my field also, but retains so much compassion and humanity. As I continue to specialize in medicine, plans are being made to work in the northern part of India where there is no dermatologist for three states. Dr. Carson and his wife too have seen the need in India and I was truly encouraged and challenged to hear of his forthcoming work in separating some Siamese twins.

It would be remiss of me not to mention the wonder of the concert by the L.A. Philharmonic Orchestra at the Fox Studios where I was in awe of such talent and respected people. Tickets for such a concert could not be bought at any price. It was brilliant to hear the excellent Sheryl Crow and see Archbishop Desmond Tutu lead the dancing with Robin Williams performing a supporting role. At the Banquet of the Golden Plate it was wonderful to hear of all these new inductees and their amazing achievements as they were accepted into what is truly a unique academy. I thank you once again for allowing me to have a glimpse of this Academy of Achievement. This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and will be invaluable in helping me to realize my vision of improving the health of those desperately in need of access to basic health; in particular, those dealing with HIV-AIDS and in the area of dermatology.

Sincerely,

Dr. Claire Grills

Dear Mrs. Reynolds,

It has been almost a week since our wonderful weekend in Los Angeles and I will confess to you, I am still walking on clouds. The entire weekend was absolutely extraordinary, well beyond my highest expectations. To be honest, when the other nine Truman Scholars and I boarded the plane in Washington, D.C. to fly to the west coast, none of us knew quite what was in store for us. However, on the plane ride back, we could not stop talking about all the exciting things we had the opportunity to see and do.

Of all the events planned throughout the week, I believe my favorite was the evening spent at the Fox sound stage. Not only is Julie Andrews absolutely wonderful, the entire evening was one astonishing performance after another. I knew it was going to be something when I walked in and saw the entire L.A. Philharmonic (which has two harps — I have never seen a symphony with more than one). The George Lucas and Steven Spielberg compilation directed by John Williams was wonderful and the Ave Maria and “Climb Every Mountain” sung by Dame Kiri Te Kanawa left me on the verge of tears.

Back at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, the conferences and dinners were fantastic as well.

The opening night with the speech by Wendy Kopp, founder of Teach for America, really helped set the tone of the conference: “Dream big, work hard and make your dream reality.”

The next day’s speech by President Clinton left everyone in awe and the various panels we listened to over the course of the weekend were exceptional. Some of my favorite panelists included: Justice Kennedy, Dr. Francis Collins, President Vaira Vike-Freiberga and of course, Archbishop Tutu.

The final evening was the perfect ending to a perfect week. I cannot imagine a more entertaining evening than Sheryl Crow performing, with the help of Robin Williams and watching Archbishop Tutu dance along with fellow students. It was truly a wonderful affair!

In addition, I want to mention how wonderful it was to spend the weekend with so many wonderful fellow students. Literally from across the globe, last weekend brought us together and provided a wonderful opportunity to learn about the lives of our peers. The conversations we had and the ideas we discussed were intellectually stimulating and very eye-opening.

Again, I want to thank you so very much for including me in this conference. It was such an honor to be selected and the weekend was truly unforgettable. In retrospect, the only word to describe such an experience is “surreal.” It is truly one of those things you have to experience to believe. I wish you and your family a wonderful summer. Thank you again for “truly the weekend of a lifetime!”

Yours very truly,

Lauren Gray Gilstrap

Dear Mrs. Reynolds,

Thank you.

For the past six years I have been studying to be a physician-scientist. During my research training I studied photobiology, spending much of my time conducting experiments in a pitch-dark room. Once in a long while I would take a moment to imagine where our experiments might lead us, and how the research findings might help people. During my medical training, I have been working hard so that eventually I will be able to help the sick. I have focused on these two endeavors, research and medicine, putting them at the center of my efforts. But meanwhile, I would read about the tragedies occurring daily around the world as well as here in the United States, and I would wonder: “What has our world come to?” and “How could people do such terrible things?” The past few days have changed those questions to “What am I doing about it?” and “What can I do to help?” The Summit speakers, especially Archbishop Desmond Tutu and President Clinton, expanded my view of the world and my view of the responsibilities I have as a human being. They also instilled in me a great sense of hope. The world can be made a better place, and I can make a difference in getting it there.

I’m not the same person I was four days ago. If each day of our lives we work to take a step forward and grow, then I feel as if during the past few days, a whirlwind force propelled my spirit leaps and bounds, and in directions I would not have considered otherwise. Thank you.

Best wishes,

Daniel Tu

Dear Mrs. Reynolds,

I find myself sitting here, on the eve of my graduation from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, still attempting to process the week that I spent in California and convey the highlights to my family. Both of these endeavors are challenging, potentially even impossible, ones. To begin with, I cannot narrow my encounters with the dozens of inspiring leaders and fascinating students that I met, both on the Catherine B. Reynolds Fellows field trip and at the Achievement Summit, to a handful of highlights. Each time I page back through my notes my memories are refreshed and all experiences take on new meaning. Furthermore, the substance of these experiences is a difficult one to communicate, since neither pictures nor lists of famous attendees reveal the heart of the Summit and its significance in my life. However, I think that part of my responsibility as one of the unbelievably fortunate student delegates is to continue to think through these profound events and how they may shape my own work in the future.

If I had to choose an overarching theme for my week in Los Angeles, it would concern the importance of fostering and listening to dialogue between disparate perspectives.

During the Reynolds’ Fellows two days of visits to various organizations in the Los Angeles area, we were able to explore and contrast various approaches to social value creation. We visited the Broad Institute and heard Kevin Hall explain how Eli Broad has stepped back to view what is happening in the education sector on a macro-level; they are employing this knowledge to create change in education from the top down by attracting and training more qualified candidates for management positions in schools and districts. The next day we met Steve Barr of Green Dot Public Schools, a group of charter schools that is attempting to spur change in the Los Angeles School District by creating competition and mobilizing parents to demand smaller high schools. When we visited Ernesto Cortes at One L.A., a branch of the Industrial Areas Foundation, I spoke with one of his organizing leaders, a teacher who has organized teachers and parents at her school to prompt the city to clean up a toxic waste site on the school grounds.

Dear Mrs. Reynolds,

Where to begin, really? I have tried to write this letter three times now, each time failing to convey the true depth of my gratitude for the invitation to attend the 45th Annual International Achievement Summit. However, I do not want to be rude and delay writing any longer, so hopefully this fourth attempt will suffice.

I am in the midst of completing an MBA at Oxford on a Rhodes Scholarship. For a long time, I have wondered what others thought of my decision to go into business, rather than other fields, such as politics, medicine or non-profit work, where the positive impact on society appears to be more direct and obvious. However, the Academy of Achievement allowed me to meet two prominent business people — Jamie Dimon, CEO of JP Morgan, and David Rubenstein, founder of the Carlyle Group — who have both contributed positively to the world. They had important things to say about the role of business as a fundamental pillar of our society, and I enjoyed talking with them.

You, yourself, are an example of the positive effect business people can have on others’ lives; this Achievement Summit has given me renewed confidence in my decision to pursue a business career, as well as new ideas about how my business experience can be put to good use in other fields. For example, I had a fantastic conversation with Dean Kamen, the inventor, about his “black box” inventions for providing clean water and electricity to poor, rural communities. He has created the machines, but now he needs an effective business plan for distributing them. I, like many other students at the conference, have volunteered to contribute ideas for this project. Hopefully he will have great implementation successes to report to next year’s Summit attendees!

Most importantly, I have left the Summit with a strong itch to get out of school and start doing already. While I doubt your intention was to persuade us all to drop out of our graduate programs and start trying to solve some of the world’s ills, you very well may have had that effect! Since my course ends in a few months, I do not plan on dropping out, but I am very eager to start actualizing some of this “potential” I’ve been building up over all these years of schooling. Thanks to your generosity, I now feel emboldened and ready for the challenge of putting my education to work.

Sincerely,

Rachael A. Wagner

Dear Mrs. Reynolds,

A week after my return, I am still processing the events of my weekend in Beverly Hills at the International Achievement Summit. What an experience. I had heard big and amazing things about past years and, admittedly, had high expectations for the weekend. As the event approached, I became wary of these expectations, certain that the event would fail to measure up in some way to all I had heard and read about years past.

I was very, very wrong. Day after day, event after event, I was completely enthralled by the discussions I heard and the people with whom I spoke. The weekend was filled with people who have dedicated their lives to the causes about which they are most passionate, and who have had real, profound impact on the world. It was so incredibly inspiring.

And the music. To hear — all in one evening — Julie Andrews speak, Trisha Yearwood sing, and Dame Kiri Te Kanawa project her fabulous, beautiful voice.

To listen enraptured as the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra played the theme songs to the George Lucas and Steven Spielberg movies that define my childhood while watching clips from the films. And to watch Savion Glover dance to Sonny Rollins’ sax. To hear and see all of this in one evening at one venue was utterly superb and absolutely breathtaking. I had to continually remind myself that I was really in this moment right now, that it was not just a dream and not yet a memory. Without a doubt, this was the most thrilling musical and cultural event I have ever attended, or am likely to attend, in my entire life.

Several of the panel discussions I found particularly interesting. Hearing the foremost minds in science discuss the role of God in science was absolutely fantastic — a conversation I wish we could have more often. I might mention, too, that the quality of that debate combined with the respectful nature in which the panelists disagreed was a refreshing change from the yelling we often hear during such conversations.

Dear Mrs. Reynolds,

First of all, I want to thank you for having the vision to organize such an incredibly rewarding event such as the International Achievement Summit. The idea of bringing together such accomplished “achievers” with an equally impressive group of young “achievers” is a wonderful one. I often found myself wondering how I was so fortunate to be in such an accomplished group. I never would have thought that a weekend event could leave such a motivating and inspirational impression that is sure to last the rest of my lifetime.

Upon returning from the Summit I was frequently asked by friends and family what it was about, and like many of my colleagues I am sure, found myself unable to find the right words. I think you have to experience it for yourself to be able to truly understand it. It was amazing to be able to see and hear so many of the world’s greatest achievers, from such varied life pursuits, and then to engage them in conversation and at times debate in an informal setting.

Pressed to choose among the many incredible moments and experiences of the Summit, two tend to stand out in my mind. First was an extended conversation with General Wesley Clark over a couple of beers on Friday night after the marvelous evening at 20th Century Fox Studios. As a current Army officer and future instructor of international relations at West Point, it was incredible to be able to debate current security issues with such an accomplished figure. Second, was the performance by Sheryl Crow to cap the Golden Plate Awards Banquet. I have always been a fan of her music, and I never would have imagined that I would be seeing her play live from five feet away, while dancing next to Sally Field and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. While explaining this incredible scene to my friends and family provides a great story, as I reflect on it, a powerful insight is what strikes me about it now — these great achievers are real people just like me, and yet they have accomplished so much in their lifetime. Why can’t I and others like me achieve so much for the betterment of today’s world citizenry? The answer, reiterated time and again during the Summit, is that there is no reason.

Dear Mrs. Reynolds,

“Forget the veneer,” was the advice that Secretary of State Alphonso Jackson had for hundreds of student delegates at the 45th Achievement Summit in Los Angeles last week. The Secretary was referring to the difference between black and white citizens (or fellow beings of the “darker and lighter hue,” as he called them), but he may just as easily have referred to young and old, rich and poor, famous and ordinary.

Indeed, his words capture perfectly the tone of this weekend, where students mingled with VIP delegates as if it was the most natural thing in the world. The nice gentleman who introduced himself as Chris on the bus to 20th Century Fox studios mentioned in passing that he had been living in London “while we were shooting Harry Potter II,” and I realized only then that I had been chatting casually to director Chris Columbus. For one weekend, all of us were on the same level, young students and the world’s brightest scientists, lawyers, politicians, and artists. We interacted with them not simply at conference level, but over breakfast, lunch and dinner, in elevators and restrooms, and during early-morning visits to the hotel gym. For me, the outstanding performance of Sheryl Crow (backed up by none other than Robin Williams) best summed up the overall feeling of the weekend when, inspired by Desmond Tutu who had taken to the dance floor early on, I found myself dancing next to Mohamed EIBaradei and the President of Latvia.

I want to take this opportunity, Mrs. Reynolds, to thank you wholeheartedly for giving me the opportunity to attend this extraordinary event. Through your generosity and vision, you created a weekend full of awe and inspiration, and provided me with lasting memories and new friendships. I would like to share with you some of the moments that most left a mark on me.

I found myself thrilled to listen to the words of those who excelled in fields outside of my own field of specialization. Nobody engaged in platitudes or dwelled on their long list of achievements; instead speakers provided little anecdotes or gave us a few simple truths. Scientist Miguel Nicolelis chose to share with us the wise words of his grandmother: “When the dream is bigger than the place you’re in, leave for a place that allows you to pursue your dream” — important reassurance after having lived outside of my native Germany for the past twelve years in pursuit of my own personal dream.

Dear Mrs. Reynolds,

While reading your letter of invitation from last September, I realized that I could not have anticipated the impact that the 45th Annual International Achievement Summit would have on my life. The whirlwind thrill ride that I experienced on June 1 – 4 is simply indescribable. On the flight home as I reread the biographies of other students and the Golden Plate award winners, I reflected on how fortunate I was to be selected as a student delegate to such an event. Thank you very much for sponsoring my attendance at this year’s Summit. As I could not possibly convey my gratitude for such an opportunity, I would like instead to share with you how this experience has changed me forever.

From the first day of speakers and panelists, I was in awe of these thought-provoking individuals and intrigued by the fascinating topics such as God’s existence and the future of Planet Earth. The next day, the panels and speakers sparked a passion within me that I had tucked away these past few years while doing research and attending medical school. Specifically, the panel discussion on HIV-AIDS and the status of the developing world reminded me of why I had entered the field of medicine — to help and more importantly, to serve others. As Mr. Rubenstein encouraged us not to “rest on our laurels” and not to be satisfied with what we “had accomplished in our first 25 years of life,” I began to reflect on my own path. I have always wanted to do volunteer medical work abroad. However, I finally accepted that, although I had been intellectually captivated by interventional radiology, I would be hard-pressed to translate this field into work I could do abroad. Without expensive equipment or even electricity, training in interventional radiology would be virtually worthless in so many parts of the world. If my passion truly was to improve the health of people worldwide, I needed to develop a new plan.

In meeting and talking with other student delegates, I discovered that I was not alone in my reawakening. Remarkable students from all over the globe similarly experienced this longing to reassess their priorities and consider the dreams they once had; naïveté, as so aptly said by Wendy Kopp, is sometimes one’s greatest asset.

Dear Mrs. Reynolds,

I am writing to thank you for inviting me to partake in the opportunity of a lifetime. The Achievement Summit surpassed my wildest dreams. Your generosity and vision of bringing together individual achievers with students resulted in a fantastic weekend filled with exciting events, scholarly conversations and some of the most thought-provoking discussions. Minutes turn to hours as I describe to friends and family the people I met, from the invited achievers to my fellow students, who sparked my imagination through our profound interactions.

There is no other event that I can think of that would bring together such a diverse group of people coupled with the brightest minds in our generation. I still cannot believe that on Saturday I had a long conversation with world leaders including Wes Clark and Mohamed ElBaradei about world politics followed by an evening where I got to meet Sally Field and interact with the Crown Price of Bahrain all to the music of Sheryl Crow. The excessive onslaught of world famous people overwhelms colleagues back at MIT when I recount my experience to them in vivid detail.

Hearing President Clinton speak was a highlight, as he challenged us to envision the 21st century and determine what we need to do to achieve our vision with the new realities of globalization. I especially liked the President’s advice to take criticism seriously and not personally. Chatting with Dean Kamen brought to life how my studies in business coupled with my engineering background can really make a difference in the world. Developing an innovative business model for his newest invention that delivers clean water to rural villages is just the type of challenge that I hope to solve. Furthermore, Ralph Nader’s talk regarding how our fear of failure stifles growth and innovation rang particularly true for me. In the myriad of choices in life, it is important to be reminded that by choosing the more difficult paths, you are unlikely to be loved, but you will be respected and it may lead to great achievement. David Rubenstein echoed Nader’s comments with his commentary on how we should take risks and find our passion.

Dear Mrs. Reynolds,

I apologize if this letter seems late. After leaving Los Angeles, I have been flying between Boston, Lisbon, Brussels, Oxford, London and Lisbon again. While I am on safe ground now, I feel as if I am still “flying.” Thank you for a weekend full of wisdom and amusement. I thank you for the opportunity to learn from outstanding students and guest speakers!

The tale narrated by Archbishop Tutu, where an eagle that had been raised among chickens is taught to fly, is in my opinion one of the big lessons of the weekend: don’t be afraid to “fly!” That is to say, break from imposed ties and follow your own path. A message that should motivate each student present at the Academy Summit to pursue new avenues and to face the challenges of such options. Yet, all new itineraries should be consequential. In that sense, the tale — also a metaphor of the liberation of South Africans from Apartheid — and the bishop’s insight on forgiveness and understanding among peoples was a remarkable example to guide one’s choices.

Besides Desmond Tutu, other guests, by their work or their words, were also inspiring. The lessons, the insights, the knowledge passed on can fill many, many pages. However, I will only highlight other speakers that, as far as I am concerned, complement and concur with the Archbishop’s words.

Gore Vidal — a “writer for life” — sublimely intelligent and irreverent as very few, showed that “flying” may have costs, but maintaining and fighting for one’s views and ideas is, in the end, the best reward. He is one of the great American authors of the century and has been an observer and critic of the American political and social establishments. Such behavior has earned him foes and a choir of disaffection but he has not changed a line in his course. And that is a great example to convey.

“Flying” and choosing, sometimes, the most difficult journey is only part of the equation. As I mentioned before, one’s choices should be meaningful. Two very distinct speakers offered some context: President Clinton and Joan Didion.

Dear Mrs. Reynolds,

I am writing to express my immense gratitude for the opportunity to attend the 2006 International Academy of Achievement Summit in Los Angeles. Without a doubt, I will remember those four days in Los Angeles through my entire life. Your generosity was truly touching and allowed me to interact with and learn from today’s world leaders, an opportunity that is one of the highest privileges one could expect. I would like to note that Admiral Susan Blumenthal first introduced me to the possibility of attending the Summit and it is through her tireless mentorship that I was able to attend. She promised me that the Summit would be a tremendous experience, and with your generosity, it in fact exceeded my greatest expectations.

One of the greatest and most personal aspects of the Summit for me was the interaction I had with my fellow delegates. My roommate, Kent Benedictis, a most recent graduate of West Point and a first lieutenant, was unlike most of the people I usually interact with at Harvard. I had always had certain pre-conceived notions about military education, but after getting to know Kent, many of my stereotypes fell apart and I ended up learning a lot about myself and gaining a good friend in the process. Other delegates I interacted with included numerous fellow students from Harvard University, including Ph.D. candidates, Kennedy School students, and law, business and medical school students. It was stimulating to interact with my peers at the Summit, and not only because we were able to discuss the broader questions regarding leadership and social justice in a comfortable and stress-free environment. I felt that my conversations with international students gave me a less U.S.-centric view of politics and world issues, which was also invaluable. Many of the relationships I began at the Summit have already jump-started my next year in England, where I will be a Harvard Scholar at Cambridge University.

Of course, the greatest impact was made by my interactions with the world visionaries and leaders brought together by the Academy. There were a few personal experiences that were especially meaningful. The week before the Summit, I had written an academic paper on the upcoming U.S.-India nuclear deal, and quoted Mohamed ElBaradei when making my argument. It was truly exhilarating not only to learn from Mr. ElBaradei in a very personal conversation, but also to tell him my own ideas and enter into an engaged dialogue with him. We discussed an upcoming editorial that he was working on and sure enough, that very editorial made headlines the week after the Summit.

I never imagined that when Admiral Blumenthal gave me the honor of a nomination almost a year ago, that this event would be so incredibly meaningful to me. I thank you again for this incredible experience and your immense generosity.

Sincerely,

Om L. Lala

Dear Mrs. Reynolds,

First may I please apologize for this letter being long overdue. After an incredible weekend in Los Angeles I returned to England to take my final exam for my Masters at Oxford and to work on the UK premiere of Brian Friel’s play Performances, directed by Lou Stein and starring Henry Goodman and Rosamund Pike. The show opened in London last night and now I have the chance to write you at last.

Thank you for what was indeed an inspirational and life-altering summit. There were so many elements that affected me, so many speakers who deeply moved me and so many fascinating individuals to talk to of both the student and adult participants. So, rather than discuss the stimulating weekend in general, please allow me to elaborate on some of the moments that impacted me in particular.

As a first-generation American of Eastern-European origin (Romanian), I really appreciated the speech given by the President of Latvia, Vaira Vike-Freiberga. I frequently wonder what my and my family’s responsibility to Romania should or could be since my father left for the USA in 1969. President Vike-Freiberga has an amazing story. Her success as an academic in Canada, followed by her political triumph in Latvia, made me reconsider the problem of “brain drain” in Eastern Europe. We émigrés can return and give back to the post-communist states. We, as President Vike-Freiberga has done, are all capable of what Milan Kundera calls “The Great Return.” In fact, I just found out three days ago that my father has been granted Romanian citizenship, despite defecting and thus being an enemy of the state until 1989.

I was so delighted we heard from Julie Taymor. I have been a great admirer of hers for a long time, as I am also a theater artist. She is a particular inspiration to me in that she has succeeded in doing it all and defying the labels of the industry. A director and designer with many other creative roles, Taymor has created art that speaks across national, age, socio-economic and ethnic divides. I was so touched when I had the opportunity to speak to her the evening of the gala. She told me, “Don’t let them box you in, be the artist you want to be.” These words will provide me much comfort as I enter this industry in which I, like Taymor, also want to be it all: director, playwright, performer and designer, as well as have an international voice and influence.

Dear Mrs. Reynolds,

It is difficult to believe that the Academy of Achievement Summit took place nearly one month ago. Since returning to Oxford, I have spent many hours recounting my experience to friends and family and their reactions have only intensified how truly honored and privileged I feel to have been a part of such an extraordinary event. I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to both yourself and your organization for allowing me to attend.

I would have to say that the most memorable part of the Summit was the quality of the program, although watching Robin Williams rapping along to Sheryl Crow was probably a close second! Seriously though, as a neuroscience researcher I was pleasantly surprised when the conference began with my favorite subject, medical science (particularly as the bulk of the presenters were neurosurgeons and neuroscientists). While these particular presentations catered to my own interests, I also felt that they were presented at a level easily understood by a broader audience as well, stimulating the curiosity of future politicians, lawyers and artists alike. This global appeal is something that science presentations often lack, and I must say that I found the talks we received to be a refreshing change.

The science versus religion panel was not only highly entertaining, but it stimulated many of us to revisit our feelings on a subject that is often “shuffled under the rug” in our politically correct society.

This was made possible by the excellent selection of panelists, all of whom commanded the audience’s respect with both their past and present accomplishments along with various intelligent arguments supporting their side of the issue. I have heard Dr. Dawkins speak before in Oxford on subjects entirely unrelated to his personal opinion of religion, and while he presented a very provocative persona throughout the conference, I have much respect for his cunning intelligence as a scientist, regardless of the topic he is lecturing on. In fact, I had the pleasure of sitting with Dr. Dawkins and his wife during our lunch outing to Spago, which allowed the three of us to trade some Oxford tales.

I also thoroughly enjoyed the talk given by Bill Clinton. This was the first time I had heard Mr. Clinton speak in person, and I felt that, given the level of the audience he was speaking to and the lack of press, he was able to provide many candid opinions regarding current events and international relations. In a world where politicians are famous for never answering the question they are asked, it was again refreshing to see Mr. Clinton provide direct, intelligent answers to the many issues that arose during his question-and-answer session.

And this was only the first morning…

On the whole, the variety presented during this Summit made for a fantastic learning experience. We were exposed to such a vast repertoire of speakers, from political heads of state, to artists, musicians and filmmakers, and of course the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hear the inspiration of Desmond Tutu. In addition to the speakers and panel discussions, I thoroughly enjoyed the musical concert at the 20th Century Fox studios, which managed to span such a broad range of genres without losing any momentum. And of course the setting of the Summit was amazing. I must say that I returned home to my small student flat in Oxford feeling utterly spoiled.

In closing, I would simply like to say thank-you one final time. This was a fantastic opportunity and I feel I gained so much from the entire experience. I can only hope that the Academy of Achievement’s annual Summit will continue well into the future so that many other students can become as fortunate as I have been to attend.

Yours very truly,

Marcia Reinhart

Dear Mrs. Reynolds,

Four months have passed since the 45th Academy of Achievement International Summit and I am still regaling family and friends about my amazing experience and thinking about how the honorees and delegates inspired me. Thank you for sending me to Los Angeles to hear from some of the world’s greatest achievers. The experience exceeded all my expectations.

When I received an invitation to attend the summit as a student delegate, classmates who had attended last year congratulated me and gushed about the incredible opportunity. I thanked them, but privately doubted that the event would blow me away. Attending school in Washington DC I have had numerous opportunities to hear important people speak. I guess I was jaded. I quickly found however, that my classmates were right. I underestimated the power of the event. The first thing I noticed when checking into the Regent Beverly Wilshire was the sheer energy and excitement around me. Among my 300 fellow students were people whose biographies contained many accomplishments at such a young age, I felt almost intimidated to approach them.

When the sessions began, I realized something that I had failed to acknowledge prior to the event: all the speakers, the achievers, were there to talk with us, the students. This is, of course, the point of the event, but for some reason I thought that l would simply be a passive observer of a dialogue among the honorees and delegates. Once the event began, it dawned on me that these people were not there simply to socialize among themselves, or brag about their accomplishments. They were there to talk to us about our futures, inspire our work, and show us that we too can make an impact.

It is difficult to adequately describe the experience in full. It was both utterly surreal and thoroughly inspiring. If the goal was to give us four days that we would not forget and to inspire us to reach for the highest goals, then the summit succeeded smashingly.

What will I remember most? That’s easy. It was the moment when Robin Williams jumped on stage during the Banquet of the Golden Plate and burst into a spontaneous rap about the summit, while Sheryl Crow played her guitar. Archbishop Desmond Tutu ran to the front of the room and boogied on the dance floor. Before long, everyone was laughing and dancing, including John Negroponte, who was bouncing along with the tunes. Everywhere I looked, I could see the world’s most accomplished leaders, along with graduate students in their fanciest attire, enjoying the evening — chatting, laughing, and dancing together.

Thank you for a wonderful time. It was truly an event to remember and an experience that will continue to inspire me. When I met Jack Horner, world-renowned paleontologist, at dinner in the 20th Century Fox Studio, he asked me “What will you do in the future to be invited back to the Academy of Achievement as an inductee?” I now have another mission in life.

Respectfully,

Kristine Schenck