Working with my peers this past year, I’ve seen first-hand the power my generation wields. Students can do anything we put our minds to. It only takes passion, discipline, commitment and direction for a dorm room idea to turn into a national non-profit or a thesis to turn into policy. Yes, I’ve seen Olympians and Rhodes Scholars change our local and national communities but I’ve also seen a sophomore in Knott Hall act in a full-length feature film. It took me two years to realize the difference I could make at Notre Dame. As I walk away from coaching and the presidency, I write directly to my peers–the dreamers, leaders, change agents, revolutionaries, and visionaries across the country. We, as young people, are positioned to make an incredible impact in our local communities. All it takes is the willingness to jump in and the courage to face the prospect of failure. Your idea can change someone’s life. Don’t wait until you graduate–try it now! After all, now is the best time to change the world. And after you jump in, you’ll see that it’s by far the most rewarding thing you’ve ever done.
