When I was a freshman at the University of Minnesota, I met three
amazing people – Brian Peterson, Irene Fernando, and Nick Lindberg -
that believed in those same values Fargo taught me. After doing a
service project, we got together that night and decided we wanted to
change the world and how the world thought of young people. We decided
to create a spring break trip called the Pay It Forward Tour, a
multi-day, multi-city experience where we would focus on service,
education and reflection. As a result of this vision and idea, Students
Today Leaders Forever (STLF) was born on September of 2003. Since that
day, we’ve sent out 131 Tours with over 5,000 young people.

As my home community took on a new identify with its epic flooding, the
organization I helped start became a critical factor in the volunteer
efforts. One of the high school students I’ve worked with began
organizing teams of his friends to prepare sandbag. The University of
North Dakota’s STLF chapter organized over 1,000 student volunteers that
bussed into Fargo, day and night, in just three days. Abby Huebsch, a
Perham High School Senior, raised $2,000 to provide transportation for
390 people from her community. The work of young people with the support
of their community played a vital role in the efforts to save their
community.

And now, as plans begin to form around levy take down and flood
recovery, the question is being asked, “Who will help?” STLF is stepping
forward with a loud, “We will!” We are inviting friends to come to the
area to volunteer for a weekend or donate to the “Spirit of Fargo Flood
Fund.” STLF will team with Oak Grove Lutheran School inviting college students from across the country to be part of May Term – Service Style. It will take the work of countless volunteers to repair a wonderful community.

It is during great tension and challenge where leadership is revealed.
I’m thankful for the unsung heroes, the students, and the strangers that
did what they could to help. Although a natural disaster has little
positives, my experience reminded me of the importance of community and
that young people are part of the solution no matter the problem.