There has never been a more important time in the history of the United States for our citizens, and especially our youth, to experience the world and to understand the cultures within and outside our borders. As the world's only super power, it is imperative that we prepare our leaders and our citizens for the realities of this interconnected world, in which our nation's decisions impact the lives of so many people around the globe. If we operate out of a vacuum of understanding and knowledge, the world pays the price. In my vision of a responsible leading nation, we all take it upon ourselves to learn about others - which more than often leads to understanding versus fear. Understanding creates an opening for postive change in any dynamic situation (and the world has many!) instead of conflict. By encouraging our youth and ourselves to explore other cultures and experience being "out of our comfort zone", we learn and appreciate deeply what it means to be "other", and we naturally gain compassion, understanding and new perspectives that stay with us for a lifetime. Imagine if all American youth had this experience and exposure at an early age... I think that we would think very differently as a nation. It's time that we actively and thoughtfully begin developing the next generation of global leaders!