HOBY Leadership Seminar inspires LRHS students

“Attitude reflects leadership, Captain,” said Julius Campbell to his teammate Gerry Bertier in the well-known film, Remember the Titans.

In efforts to improve their leadership and the attitudes of those around them, three LRHS rising juniors attended the Hugh O’Brian Youth (HOBY) Leadership Seminar last week.

Hannah Anderson, Angel Perez and Chelsie Waterson were recommended for the experience by HOBY veterans Megan Buriak and Lizette Silva as well as by LRHS teacher Kathy McAnally to attend the three-day conference at Washington State University.

Founded in 1958, HOBY state leadership seminars take place annually across the United States, and provide students with the opportunity to “participate in hands-on leadership activities, meet leaders in their state, and explore their own personal leadership skills while learning how to make a positive impact in their community.”

This aligns with HOBY’s vision, “to motivate and empower individuals to make a positive difference within our global society, through understanding and action, based on effective and compassionate leadership.”

Anderson, Perez, and Waterson were three of around 10,000 other students across the country to participate in the program this year, joining a strong alumni network of 450,000 members.

“To be quite honest,” Perez said of his motivation to attend HOBY in the first place, “I didn’t want to go as the event came closer. I was thinking, ‘It’s just going to be a bunch of overly excited annoying people.’”

“But it wasn’t that; it was people talking about real subjects in our world,” Perez clarified.

He continued, “It was amazing (because of) the connections I made. I really enjoyed talking to people there, and I felt I really opened up and shared who I am as an individual and what drives me.”

“Everybody did the same thing,” he added.

Waterson explained, “I decided to go (because) I wanted to learn about leadership, I wanted to find out ways to better myself, and I wanted to break out of my shell.”

“I am so glad I went because I feel so much more understanding and open,” Waterson reflected.

She added, “I know my past is okay and it’s a part of me, I know how to be a successful leader, and I’ve totally broken out of my shell and comfort zone.”

“What made it amazing was the people,” Anderson believed. “They were all extremely kind and welcoming.”

“I became so close with my group in only a few days, they are like my family now,” Anderson continued.

Anderson, Perez, and Waterson learned during their HOBY Leadership Seminar.

Waterson explained, “We learned three different kinds of leadership: self-leadership, group leadership, and community leadership.”

Anderson distinguishes the three types of leadership as “how you can make a difference in yourself, how we can work together in small groups to impact our community, and how we can all come together to make a difference in this world.”

HOBY maintains five core values, volunteerism, excellence, integrity, diversity, and community partnership, all of which played a part in Perez’s growth: “I learned that I’m not the only person with problems and everyone has their own views.”

“Everybody sees things differently and that’s okay,” he continued. “It makes us stronger as individuals to really embrace that.”

HOBY offers participants the opportunity to return to camp as counselors the following summer. Perez explained, “To do so, we have to complete a minimum of 100 hours of community service and I think I’m going to try.”

“It was amazing… I would love to go back,” Perez emphasized.

The students are thankful for the experience.

“I see the world differently, and I feel much happier,” Waterson said. “10/10, I recommend this program.” Applications will be open again next school year for sophomore students.

Anderson, Perez, and Waterson are looking to apply their new leadership skills to improve the attitudes and widen the outlooks of those around them next school year.

Perez concluded, “It’s cliché to say ‘oh, it changed my entire life,’ but it definitely changed the way I see and think about things… I’m so happy I went.”