We boarded the plane home today with full but heavy hearts. Our time here in Southeast Asia has been filled with wonder, rich culture, warm hospitality, deep introspection, and a newfound sense of hope and inspiration. This journey has been more than just miles traveled; it’s been about learning from others, growing within ourselves, and challenging our assumptions in ways we could not have imagined.
In Vietnam, we encountered the resilience of a people still healing from the scars of war. The weight of history is everywhere, but it hasn’t stopped the flow of life that surges forward on seas of motorbikes in the cities, moving with jaw-dropping fluidity. We were reminded here that strength often lies in moving forward together—synchronizing to create something greater than the sum of individual journeys.
Cambodia invited us to marvel at human achievements and reflect on human suffering. Walking the grounds of Angkor Wat, we felt the majesty of an ancient civilization that built wonders to last beyond lifetimes. Yet, in the shadow of such grandeur, we heard heartbreaking stories of survival from those who endured the Khmer Rouge regime. Our guides shared not just history but personal stories of their families’ perseverance. It left us humbled by the Cambodian spirit—a deep well of compassion, warmth, and unbreakable resilience.
Laos greeted us with a quieter yet even more powerful inspiration. In every change maker we met—people fighting for social justice, opportunity, and conservation—there was a steady resolve and belief in the potential of each small step. We experienced a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to walk alongside elephants in a conservation preserve, sharing a moment of awe and connection with these gentle giants, and felt the deep responsibility to protect these majestic creatures. We were reminded that hope takes many forms, and often it is nurtured by the simplest, most profound connections with the world around us.
All these experiences have been building blocks in the personal growth journey we’ve undertaken through Ag Leadership. The perspectives gained, the empathy deepened, and the sense of shared humanity cultivated here will continue to shape us as leaders and as people.
At our final dinner, the PFs raised a toast to the class, honoring this journey and the profound transformations we’ve seen in each other.
Toast to the last 14 months:
To Fresno, San Luis Obispo, Davis, and Pomona.
To Who am I speeches and the bravery it takes to show your true self, alone, sting in front of a bunch of new people.
To Where I’m From poems and comfort of the Perry Home and the love we filled it with.
To 360 reviews and being able to do the hard introspective work that leads to real change.
To our coaches. It’s hard to write goals and I think we all befitted from their guidance.
To the CALF staff and Board back at home who work so hard to make this program possible.
To our Education Team and their faith in us. And the patience it takes to work with 24 strong leaders.
And to all of you, Class 53, thank you for your commitment to constant improvement. To assuming best intent. And to love that bonds us.
Toast to the Present:
Here’s to the people we are today—forever changed from the ones who left home 14 days ago.
Here’s to the new experiences, the closer friendships, the hearts that have grown, the moments of humility, and the minds that have expanded.
Here’s to the people we’ve met, who have shared their lives with us, laughed with us, and humbled us with their kindness and perseverance.
In the words of Madam Chanhpheng Sivila at the Baci ceremony, ‘Hai Kuard Nnee, Dee Kuard Kao,’ meaning ‘bad is swept out, good is swept in.’ May this trip have swept away any doubts, complacency, or selfishness, leaving us filled with purpose, gratitude, and inspiration.
Here’s to the changes in all of us and to the new people we are coming home as.
Toast to our Future:
Since the CALF motto is growing leaders who make a difference….
Here’s to the difference in the efficiencies of the programs you’ll improve with your spectral thinking
Here’s to the different ways you’ll approach challenges with a refined curiosity.
Here’s to the differences in how you approach challenges and zoom out for out of the box solutions
Here’s to the differences in the hearts of those that you host
Here’s to the differences in the spaces that you occupy when you challenge the environment and act as a thermostat for change
Here’s to the differences in the lives of the people that you will no doubt positively impact when you’re in your stretch zone
Here’s to the difference in your approach when you reflect on the cornerstones that make you who you are.
Here’s to the different outcomes when your message is water bottled into a convenient and easy to consume form
Here’s to the different answers in the pop quizzes that present themselves to you going forward
And finally, here’s to differences in perspectives as we find the gold in others as well as ourselves
On our final day together, our Director of Education, Dane, shared with us the meaning of “denouement”, which is French for the act of untying. We are all composed of threads that have been woven through life experience, and often new experiences can untie our previously woven selves, adding in newly created threads that can be woven into something even stronger. As we return home, we feel the weight and beauty of these new threads woven into our lives—each representing the people we met, the stories shared, and the remarkable landscapes we experienced. This journey untied assumptions, opened our hearts to new perspectives, and reminded us of the power of conviction and hope. With gratitude, we carry these threads forward, ready to weave them into our work and life, with a spirit of curiosity and openness to all that’s yet to come.
In earnest pursuit of the possible,
Jodi, Kurt, Krystal and Class 53
