Leadership opportunities

Sophomores: Hugh O'Brien Leadership Seminars

Lydia Fox attended both the state HOBY conference and the national conference. Here is her story.

In early June this year, I was given the opportunity to attend the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership seminar in Manhattan, Kansas. During this short weekend, I was exposed to personal growth, a sense of community, and a new way of thinking that has no short of changed my life. This experience gave me the opportunity to work my way towards the World Leadership Congress, which is a week-long, world-wide extension of the HOBY regional seminar. Both of these once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that I am so thankful to have had the ability to attend.

I attended the HOBY Kansas seminar in early June. Over the three days, we were taught with both spoken panels and hands-on activities how to better lead yourself, your communities, and how to be a good teammate. I learned a lot about myself and was able to dive deep into my own ways of thinking, my daily practices, and how I think about others. It was truly eye-opening; as if a door had opened in my mind, I realized that there’s so much I can do for my community, my school, and myself despite my age and position. I learned that I have the ability to take a stand and make the world a better place, little by little. This small amount of time created a spark in me that started the personal growth journey I am on now.

After the seminar in Manhattan, I knew I would do anything it took to be able to attend the extension, the World Leadership Congress in Chicago. I spent the next month fundraising and working to be able to afford the cost of the seminar and the plane ticket to get there. The help I received took me to places I never imagined I’d be able to go (both physically and mentally) and has given me the power and inspiration to do what I want to do for myself and my community.

Through the duration of the week I was in Chicago, my way of thinking completely changed. I learned how to practice empathy and flexible problem solving, how to grow and be a good global citizen, and even what I want to do as a future career. We had many amazing, influential speakers come and taught us about the many ways we can help. We also got to do many fun, impacting events such as touring the city of Chicago and a talent show where the goal was to be as supporting and loving as possible. I met some of the best people in the world that I will keep contact with for the rest of my life. The endless support, love and kind words given to me by everyone at both seminars have helped my confidence, inspired me to make a change, and set me on my way to creating a difference in the world.

I hope to take what I learned to make my community a more inclusive and loving place for everyone. Empathy means a lot to me and I’d like to see more of that at our school. I have lots of plans for the upcoming school year to unify our community at school and encourage others to practice kindness, all of which I gained during both seminars. I hope to take what I learned to inspire others and to continue to flourish as I steadily enter adulthood.