Class 55 The Space to Notice October 30, 2026 By Class55 Share: Day 13 arrived and we could feel our time together nearing its end. It was a bittersweet mix of going home to familiarity and our loved ones, while knowing our once-in-a-lifetime experiences were coming to an end. The goal for this day was to travel to our desert camp where we would start our two-part final synthesis together. What we did not expect were the small gems we would experience along the way. The drive to the sand dunes gave us plenty to take in before we ever stepped onto the sand. We passed mountains shaped over time by rain, wind, and blowing sand, including a rock formation locals called the “Camel’s Eye.” We passed small date stands, many little more than rustic shade structures made from bamboo. It was hard not to compare them to the fresh fruit stands along roads back home. The familiar comparison brought questions about the people behind them that perhaps we hadn’t allowed ourselves to consider before. Where did they live? Did they live off of what they made at this stand alone? Do they have families depending on them?This trip has been about more than spectacular sights, unique landscapes, and unfamiliar languages. It has given us something often difficult to find in our daily lives: time. Time away from responsibilities, expectations, and the constant demands on our attention. Time to notice the people and places around us, and to consider questions we might otherwise never stop to ask.Multiple hours on a bus call for multiple stops to stretch tight hamstrings. We made such a stop at a vantage point overlooking an oasis filled with date palms and other crops that just so happened to be across the street from a school. Three young boys saw us get off the bus and approached us. We jumped into action, airing up the soccer balls and footballs we’d brought and were soon in motion. More children joined in, one by one, as school had just let out. Some soccer balls doubled as volleyballs, where heading was acceptable to keep the ball airborne. Others spent time showing the children how to hold and throw an American football. Unfamiliar languages didn’t prevent anyone from participating or being present here with immense joy. We could have stayed on that outlook point all day, soaking in the smiles and laughter, but the journey called us onward. The children playing with us gathered around as they noticed a bag of toys and other sports balls. Each was eager to receive one, gathering around the fellows who were quickly organizing them to share with the group. As we climbed back on the bus, a realization hit like a ton of bricks: none of the young girls were participating with us. Sitting on their school step across the road, many girls observed the whole scene unfold. Did they want to participate and weren’t allowed? Had they ever tried? When we as leaders are active participants, how can we still make sure we are inclusive of those on the outside looking in? We may not always recognize who has been left out, but becoming aware of those on the sidelines is an important first step toward making room for them. What do we miss when we are active participants? Following our stop for lunch at a riad, a traditional Moroccan style house featuring open-air courtyards in the center, we continued on our journey. One more stop at a pottery village allowed a final stretch and a chance to admire carefully crafted goods. Serving plates, unique vases, mugs, and spice containers caught our eyes with a deep green color that is so special to Moroccans. Green is associated with Islam and nature, and its significance was especially apparent against the red desert landscape. Here, green marks the oases, where life flourishes. Once we reached the camp, the energy in the group shifted. Excitement filled us, as we asked local hosts to show us how to wrap our headscarves properly. They then guided us by camels to the nearby dunes, where we were encouraged to remove our shoes and absorb the energy of the sand. After so much travel, conversation, and learning, there was something raw about walking in that place, toes sinking in the sand. We were a group of twenty-four children being released for recess: running up and down the dunes, just having fun and seeing another perspective. Just before sunset, we gathered at the top of a dune for a group photo. When it was finished, we turned around to see the sun peeking through the clouds. We sat together in complete silence, soaking in the last of the sun’s rays as it sank behind the golden dunes. As we gathered around one long table for dinner, one fellow stood to offer a toast. The confidence and care in those carefully chosen words made their growth through this program clear to all listening. It was a simple gesture, but it brought us back to what this experience has been about since our first days together in Fresno: learning to understand ourselves, finding our voices, and building relationships that allow us to grow.That feeling carried into part one of our final synthesis around the fire. We were asked to reflect on two things: what we would remember and what we would take home with us. The responses were as varied as the twenty-seven people gathered around the fire, but there was something shared in our appreciation for one another, the growth we had witnessed, and the journey that brought us to this moment. Looking around the circle, it was hard not to think about how much had changed since we first met. We had watched one another ask difficult questions, reconsider assumptions, and become more comfortable sharing honestly. Witnessing those changes in people we now know so well was one of the most meaningful parts of the evening.The rest of the night brought dancing around the fire to traditional drums and an electric guitar. Our desert host, Ibrahim, in his grand purple robes and widely wrapped turban, drew us out of our calm enjoyment of the music. He pulled us from our seats, and we clapped our hands to the drums and danced together, not caring that we didn’t know where the tunes were going. It was a fantastic celebration filled with laughter, movement, and the chance to enjoy being together as this chapter of our experience drew toward its close.We wrapped up the day with a moonlit walk across the dunes. The desert seemed so empty, yet it felt so full – full of laughter, shared memories, and the voices of people who had become lifelong friends. We were closing one chapter together, knowing we still had a lifetime of friendship ahead. With gratitude,Sadie, Josh, Morgan, and Class 55