On Friday, January 9th to Sunday January 11th, we gathered a group of 11 participants at the Hilton Houston Plaza to delve into texts, movies, and activities that explored the topic of Reason and Power.
Thanks to our great donors and supporters for making this powerful experience possible!
We looked at the relationship between Reason and Power from many different aspects, examining:
- The power of philosophy through Ayn Rand’s essay, “Philosophy Who Needs It,”
- The power of logical fallacies in arguments,
- The power of ideas in DeTocqueville’s explanation of how the Pilgrims’ settlement in the New World so influenced the founding of America,
- The importance of the balance of power in Machiavelli’s analysis of the structural evolution of the ancient Roman Republic,
- The power of art in the way Leni Riefenstahl used original filming techniques in Hitler’s crucial propaganda movie “The Triumph of the Will.”
Our reading from the ancient Roman Stoic, Epictetus, and our session on logic were, hands-down, the favorites.
We had a wide range of ages in the group, from a set of 16 year old Dallas students to an accomplished professional of 25 – yet our methods powered deep discussions between them.
Here are some of their comments:
“I learned to have more confidence to call people out and start a friendly platform for conversation. Be less polite in the sense of lazy agreement. I’ll do more seeking and inducing critical thinking.” – Katie David, Chicago Circus Professional
“I will start asking more questions about my texts. I really realized how far a discussion can go when a simple question is asked.”– Brayden Blackburn, Dallas High School
“What surprised me the most about the program was the amount of engagement. I wasn’t expecting this much. Learning the opinions of others and seeing their own view points compared to mine was really valuable. I will have a better time understanding how others feel and how to help others more.” – Trevor Jose, Houston High School
“It is a great experience that really challenges your ability to think and extrapolate details from source material and to discuss with others in depth. The DeTocqueville reading reiterated the founding of America and how that’s relevant to current events. Because of the seminar, I will apply logic, understanding, and patience to others when hearing their point of view, be ready to question their reasoning, and to explain and defend mine.” – Rey Torres, New Jersey College student
“After the whole day my brain was all used up.” – Daniel Vaca, Dallas High School
“It is a great way to practice at speaking your ideas in a discussion and for understanding how to analyze texts objectively. I loved the active participation aspect of the seminar. I feel it is so important for shy younger students to understand the value of speaking and discussing their ideas.” – Alexsei Dokuchaev, Cartographer, Houston
Five of the younger students were brought to the program by their English teacher, Ni-Ja Owens. At the end of the weekend, she told us she thought it was a very valuable experience for her students, and to let her know the next time we have such a program in Texas, and she would publicize it to other teachers in her area!
Two of our very generous Houston donors sat in on some of the sessions, and both were impressed with how much more could be understood from a text or film, or artwork, with our kinds of discussions.
Thanks to them for taking the time to see first-hand what we do!
Experience 2026 The Great Connections Summer Seminar — Reason and Love
If you’re drawn to serious conversations, big ideas, and the kind of learning that stays with you long after a program ends, we invite you to take the next step.
This Summer 2026, Reliance College will host our annual Great Connections Summer Seminar, a week-long immersive experience for young adults (ages 16–24) built around guided discussion, close reading, and collaborative exploration. Centered on the theme Reason and Love, the seminar brings students together to examine great texts, test ideas in conversation, and develop the intellectual independence, confidence, and judgment needed for a flourishing life.
This is not a lecture series or a passive retreat. Participants engage actively with one another in small groups, learning how to ask better questions, listen carefully, and articulate their ideas with clarity and conviction — skills that matter in college, career, and life.
Applications for the 2026 Great Connections Summer Seminar are now open. Learn more about the program and apply here.
