Cool enough to change the world

Overtired from my transatlantic flight, with my baggage lost I crept up to my dorm at Walsh Hall, the girl's dormatory in Notre Dame, IN. Facing 34°C I could not help but reconsidering whether it really was the best idea in the world to come here without knowing anybody. So many friends told me, that Phoenix changed their life. Or twisted at least their head around leaving a lasting impression. Hm. "What is this amazing, life-changing institute everybody is talking about? I wanna be part of it!", have been my intentions in order to come here.

And here I am. Key in hands, nobody there. At least the campus is pretty....



Day two: Somebody is knocking at my door. Slightly. But persistent. I could not help, a quick look at my watch told me it was high time to get up (annoying jetlag), but open the door. A big smiling face appeard: "Hola! Como estas?!?!"
"Ehm... sorry, I think you are mistaken, I am part of the Notre Dame Summer Programme, to be held in English...." Spanish, nothing but spanish around me!!! "Just four weeks, just four weeks...", I told myself with a sigh. "Just four weeks..."

And JUST it was. Now here I am. Filled with hope and joy. Not only because I became capable of answering "Como estas?" with "Estoy muy bien, muchas gracias, y tu?" but because something has moved my heart and turned myself 180° around. What was the cause for those days, I have been looking at so suspiciously, turning by so quickly? My immediate answer: Todo! Everything. The openness and laughter of Phoenixians, their helpfullness and funny easy-going way was just entraining me. You cannot help but let yourself go. And most of all, hand in hand with all the friendship and the fun, there is a firm fundament:

People from all over the world, young people, who believe in the same values, that after a while became harder and harder for me to follow. Despite different backgrounds, religions, stages of lives, etc etc you share the vision of contributing to society by actively doing something. Something that can make this world a better place.

This might sound utopian though, but it just takes young courageous and educated people, who really wanna make a difference and believe in themselves, that they are capable of it. I do now.



We can make a difference. We can make a change! I can. Because I am not alone.
Despite reaching my physical limits during the summer programme as we all had lack of sleep, - not just because of partying but because of night-long lasting discussions and controversies as well as lots of papers to write for our classes - everyone was full of energy and happiness.

My roommate and now very good friend Martha from Mexico - I don't know if I would have managed being on time in class (8:45am!!!) without her encouraging words every single morning over and over again - statet the Phoenixan' profiles the following: "A person has to take leadership, looking for the good of others and take opportunity to change the world."

What I learned about heroism? Mucho!
Any skill is valuable. We all have certain skills, gifts and abilities. Putting a skill to use is important – being a hero is not about having an extraordinary skill, it is about using your skill in an extraordinary way. (Quoting my friend Paul, who exceptionally happens to be an english-speaking American)

You face a situation, you do something and become active. Not the situations make you a hero but the way you act. I think I can do that. I think we can do that.

Phoenix - Heaven on earth? No.
Cool enough to change the world? Si. CLARO!

Check it out: www.thephoenixinstitute.org