Team Profiles

Meet the winners of the 2008 Junior 8 Competition. These young people will represent the US in Hokkaido, Japan in 2008.

Volens et Potens

Why are you, as a team of young people from a G8 country, interested in global issues, and why have you chosen to take part in Junior 8?

Harold R. McAlindon once said, “Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trial.” We, the Volens et Potens, would like to start our own trail in this world and make a difference in the lives of others. We do not just want to trample over the same path that every student has walked on. Instead, we want to share our own ideas and show the world our personalities and dreams. This is why we chose to participate in the J8 competition.

The members of this group are all citizens that are aware of the global issues and are striving to make a difference. The Volens et Potens are interested in the world issues and are up to date with ongoing world events. Due to our knowledge and interest of current events, we contemplated different possible solutions to world problems long before J8. However, by participating in a competition like J8, we feel as though we are now able to express and present our solutions to a wide range of people. Since we are already involved in our own communities, through tasks such as community work, we would finally like to expand to a global audience.

From the beginning, we, the members of Volens et Potens, believed that you do not need to be a house hold name to make a difference. Rather, we believe what our team name states. Volens et Potens, is a Latin phrase meaning willing and able. So, we believe that one must be willing to do what they believe in to be able to accomplish it. Now, that is exactly what this group is doing. We are willing to work and strive for the best, and in doing so, we believe that we will be able to achieve our goals.