Last summer, a group of sophomore students attended HOBY, which stands for Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership. HOBY is a premier youth leadership organization whose mission is to "inspire and develop our global community of youth and volunteers to a life dedicated to leadership, service, and innovation." The HOBY curriculum is based on the Social Change Model of Leadership and includes Personal Leadership, Group Leadership, and Service Leadership.
Zoe Beavers, Andy Kennedy, Abby Gonzalez, and Alli Robinson served as the GHS representatives for HOBY and recently spoke with interested students from the sophomore class about their experiences. According to Alli, "Going into HOBY I wasn't sure exactly what to expect. Like many others arriving, I was nervous but excited. Those 4 days at HOBY went by so quickly, yet I learned so much. Not only did I learn about being a leader and how to use my voice and speak up. I had the opportunity to connect with others with similar interests. I am so grateful for this experience and the lifelong friendships I made."
The HOBY dates for next summer are June 13-16 and the conference is typically hosted at Illinois Wesleyan. GHS is able to select four current sophomores to attend the event. Students who are interested must first complete an application by October 31, 2023. To learn more please watch the information video, https://www.hobyilcs.org/send-... or contact Stephanie Woodard. Applications for current sophomores can be found in the Class of 2026 Google Classroom and we encourage interested sophomore students to apply for HOBY.
When asked about her experience Abby said, "HOBY changed the way I look at leadership and what it means to be a leader. I built relationships with people who I never would've talked to outside of this seminar. We grew so close just over the weekend and the support and love we had for each other really grew as time went on. The skills I grew in just a day will help and guide me in jobs, social events, and overall life. I'm so happy I chose to attend HOBY!"
