by Erin Harris and Shu Matsuoka
SGI-USA future division young women’s and young men’s leaders
Toward 2030: Triumphantly Marching Toward New Heights of Victory!”—this was the theme that the 12 members of the national junior high and high school (JHHS) planning board chose for the Junior High and High School Conference, held June 21–24 at Soka University of America (SUA) in Aliso Viejo, California.
Future division members, ages 11–18, gathered from across the country to make friends, study Buddhism and engage in activities and discussions that helped them deepen their understanding of Ikeda Sensei’s efforts for kosen-rufu and how to apply Nichiren Buddhism to their lives.
The conference was planned entirely by the national JHHS planning board members, who began meeting in March toward the event: Kaylee Choi, Roya Etienne, Kahren Jimenez, Taka Koga, Antoine Lee, Aarna Marwah, Miki Masubuchi, Spencer Parham, Maximo Segui, Aditya Sharma, Jessalyn Williams and Masao Yabusaki.
Basing themselves on Sensei’s encouragement to the future division, they selected study topics, engaged in brainstorming sessions and provided feedback on conference logistics, sharing their experiences with one another along the way. They also used their amazing creativity to plan interactive sessions that made Buddhist concepts such as the “mutual possession of the Ten Worlds” feel relevant and applicable to every participant.
During the four-day conference, we witnessed the vision set by our JHHS planning board members manifest in the lives of the participants:
1. Every JHHS member to develop or strengthen lifelong friendships.
2. Every JHHS member to have a personal dream toward 2030.
3. Every JHHS member to develop or strengthen their relationship with Ikeda Sensei.
4. Every JHHS member to develop into better human beings through daimoku.
5. Every JHHS member to ask the question “How do we continue to make waves of advancement and move forward as the leaders of the new generation?”
During our orientation call, we shared the following guidance from Sensei to the future division:
I hope that you will all study hard over the next 10 years and build a solid base for your lives. I also hope that you will become the foundation of the Soka Gakkai and kosen-rufu in the future, working for the happiness of others and for world peace. …
Building the framework for our lives in our youth and then striving to fill it in is the sure way to live. I therefore hope that all of you will exert yourselves in faith, chant in earnest and make Buddhism—the supreme philosophy of life—the basis of your being. (The New Human Revolution, vol. 9, revised edition, p. 87)
We heard many great stories of participants expressing tremendous joy upon meeting friends from across the SGI-USA and being inspired by Sensei’s encouragement to challenge themselves in all aspects of their studies and personal lives. Through the different sessions, we saw each person shine in their own unique way and create bonds of friendship.
During the open mic sessions, the attendees were quick to express their appreciation for the Byakuren, Soka Group, chaperones and facilitators supporting behind the scenes. They also shared their commitment to chant more at home, and many of them even expressed new determinations to enroll at SUA in the future!
Together, we are determined to join our amazing future division members in triumphantly marching toward new heights of victory toward 2030. Words can’t express the immense appreciation we have for the future division members who are the hope of our community and the world!
A Time to Connect
by Maximo Segui
This was actually my first and last time at the JHHS Conference as a graduating high school senior. For me, it was about creating bonds and memories that will last a lifetime.
Afterward, I felt like, even if I might not see these people for a very long time, the bond is definitely there, especially with my roommate. We got into good conversations, and we did a lot of different things together, even chant. That was very special.
I think the conference did a great job of facilitating dialogue, even with the number of activities we had. We played basketball, walked around the campus, ate together—all these things helped us connect.
People were just very happy to be there. For example, walking through the cafeteria, nobody looked at you and didn’t smile. The environment and energy were just so pure.
The importance of this conference lies in the experience. If someone truly wants to grow, they have to get out of their shell. For those who haven’t attended yet, I think it’s just a matter of going once to just see what it’s like. Just give it a shot.
With Faith in My Future
by Aarna Marwah
I’ve been to multiple JHHS conferences, and the part I really look forward to each time is meeting my roommate. This year, we spent countless hours talking and learning about each other. We studied and even chanted before we slept since I’m a pretty anxious person. I really appreciate the connections we created through this conference.
Now, with the conference behind us, I think what I enjoyed most were the little bits of downtime in the dorms, when we had some really honest and free conversations that you can’t get through a structured activity.
As part of the planning committee, a main discussion point for us was that this would be the first conference after Ikeda Sensei’s passing, and how we as youth have a responsibility to be victorious and carry Sensei’s vision of kosen-rufu forward. Based on that, our theme really honed in on the idea that we will achieve all our goals at new levels.
I want to embody this spirit by fully working toward my goals, specifically the ones that take me to new heights. I do struggle with fighting for what I want, and I really want to embody the spirit that I can be triumphant and have faith in my future.
July 19, 2024, World Tribune, pp. 6–8
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