Rodney Mhungu represents Parklands College at the Global Young Leaders Conference in the USA…

Firstly, having attended this conference has been the most enriching, memorable and surreal experience I have ever had. I feel so lucky to have been nominated for it! Because of the amount I had learnt, I returned to South Africa feeling like I had been away for a year when in fact it had only been a two week conference in the July holidays.   GYLC invites young leaders who are scholars from countries across the globe. Each conference invites up to 400 high achievers from around the world to come together to discuss, analyse and evaluate global issues and interests.  There are a series of simulations and exercises that arouse lateral thinking in the young minds. Through reasoning and debate, the leaders of the next generation familiarise themselves with the problems we currently face and will soon face as individuals, nations, and a global community. The scariest part of the trip, I would say, was arriving at Washington DC airport (where the first part of the conference was held, the second half being  in New York), being ushered by a GYLC staff member who was an expert at spotting wandering teens in the terminal,, then meeting the concentrated group of GYLC scholars within the terminal. I did not know a single face within the group! I had no idea which one of the students I should introduce myself to first. After moments of self-motivation, and a subtle nudge from that GYLC staff member, I launched myself into the crowd, only to find that everybody had just met everybody else! I exchanged names with a circle of students, each student returning their name with a different accent. Here I was with a multitude of international students, and nobody was any less ecstatic than I was!   On arrival at the Sheraton Hotel in Washington DC, the conference jumped straight into action. After registering on Sunday afternoon, we had a briefing on the schedule of the conference, leading to the Sunday evening in which we were introduced to our  Leadership Groups (the countries we had been placed in to represent throughout the conference, which were not necessarily our own). I had become a part of Costa Rica, and represented their national interests. Monday was the start of a jam-packed schedule, filled with enriching activities, such as Leadership Group meetings, high-achieving world leaders speaking to us students (from the Vice President of the Department of State, to the woman heading one of the most efficient and effective non-profit organisations in the world [FORGE] – that being two out of the many), as well as thorough simulations on how to deal with real world issues. The work was constant but interesting; all the way throughout the conference we were being prepared for the final and most important simulation, which was the Global Summit at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The only day of ‘rest’ we had was on the 4th of July, when we got to view the parade being held in celebration of the American Independence Day, and to explore some interesting museums (such as The Space Travel Museum and The Holocaust Museum).   The conference moved to New York, with the 2nd half of the conference being the most exciting part. We settled at Manhattan College in The Bronx. The intensity did not die down, but as our preparations got closer to the Global Summit, the GYLC got even more exciting. Late in the 2 week process they elected eight representatives after thoroughly scrutinising the 16 potential candidates. I was lucky enough to be elected as chairperson for the Global Summit.  The Global Summit on the final full day was the most amazing experience! Students from all around the world were debating previously prepared resolutions on how to address international issues. The expansive and abundant knowledge that we acquired throughout the conference was all used to its best potential in these culminating events.  It is incredible to see what the future holds for us! Our next generation of leaders are going to change and improve this world to become better (in every sense of the word) than any person, in this day and age, could ever imagine! The potential is vast and the showcase of what we, as teenagers could conceive and formulate, was exhilarating. I look forward to growing up and going into the big wide world after this experience, and there are many more future leaders in South Africa, especially in Parklands College that I would love to hear of going to future Global Young Leaders Conferences.  Future leaders from Parklands College, you all have it in you. Do your best to be nominated to attend the GYLC and I can promise you that you will enjoy it as much as I did.  Rodney Mhungu – Head Boy      

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